Two years back, the World Health Organization speculated a disease called disease X which was likely to be the next pandemic.

As per the speculation, it will originate from animals, will be less fatal, but more contagious than normal flu.

When all public experts knew that there was a possibility of a corona-like virus becoming the next pandemic, efforts could have been made by the International UN agencies in making a vaccine for SARS in 2012 itself.

We know that flu virus strains change every year, but the previous vaccine strain can be effective in reducing the severity of the new strain of virus.

If coronavirus vaccine was available today, it could have made the COVID-19 disease milder.

The time is still not lost, and a vaccine should be made against coronaviruses which should be able to take care of SARS, MERS and COVID-19 like illnesses.

SARS and MERS were hit and run viruses and never came back. Probably that made the agencies indifferent about them.

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA