The COVID-19 pandemic has been keeping us all at home for weeks now and many are starting to wonder, when will it end? Of course, eventually, the pandemic will start slowing down and we will return to our old lives, albeit with some changes to the way we live. One thing that will help to end this pandemic is a vaccine. But how long will it take to get one?

Vaccines are not easy to make and are not made quickly. Some vaccines can take up to 15 years to reach clinics, as said by The History of Vaccines. Luckily, a vaccine for this pandemic won’t take that long. For one, we are in the middle of a pandemic, so vaccine production will be sped up. According to the scientific advisors to the UK and US governments, Sir Patrick Vallance and Anthony Fauci respectively, a mass-produced vaccine will most likely take 12-18 months. That number, however, is for a vaccine available for the masses which will also have to be very thoroughly tested. According to the Guardian, experimental vaccines might be considered safe enough to be administered on a limited basis to high-risk groups, namely health workers dealing with the pandemic in hospitals. These vaccines could be ready this year, maybe even as early as June, but it is important to remember that these won’t be available for the public as they may not be fully tested.

Long story short, most of us along with the general public will have a vaccine (hopefully) in 12-18 months, sometime between spring and fall next year. Though a mass-produced vaccine will most likely put an end to the pandemic, it is important to remember for now to continue social distancing to keep yourself and others safe from the pandemic.