Sorry for the injection of positive news here, but media reports in the last couple of days indicate that progress on both the Moderna and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is proceeding at a very rapid and promising pace. The Moderna vaccine successfully concluded its Phase 2 trials, with an immune response generated in all participants and only minimal side effects. (The usual side effects people experience with the flu vaccine - fatigue, soreness at the injection site, etc.)
The Oxford vaccine, which seems like it is further along, finished Phase 2 and had even better news - it elicited an immune response that produced both antibodies and T-Cells, providing double protection, if you will. They are full steam ahead into Phase 3, and have production contracts for literally two billion doses already in place. In even better news, apparently this vaccine only needs to be chilled, not frozen, for transport, making it easier to ship.
They are confidently talking this Fall for both of them. If so, that will be a massive game changer both for public health and public confidence. Fingers crossed....