As the coronavirus pandemic loom keeping those around the country quarantined in their homes, doctors and pharmaceutical companies have been tirelessly working to develop a vaccine to prevent any future spread of the virus. As of April 13, 2020, there are currently seventy (70) different vaccines being tested and developed worldwide. Although the average vaccine takes between ten (10) and fifteen (15) years to develop, due to the immense necessity and government approval, a Coronavirus vaccine may be available in the coming year. Currently there are two (2) different vaccines that have begun human trials in the United States. The first vaccine to begin human trials begun in March in Washington. Recently a vaccine developed by Inovio Pharmaceuticals has begun mounting the infrastructure to recruit, test and evaluate volunteers who participate in clinical trials.

Backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Inovio Pharmaceuticals’ vaccine has used its resources to set up testing sites and partner with University of Pennsylvania in a facility outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Center for Pharmaceutical Research in Kansas City, Missouri. In the beginning stage of the vaccine’s clinical trial, Inovio Pharmaceuticals will only test forty (40) participants in from Philadelphia before expanding to its additional partner facility in Kansas City, Missouri, as well as others that may emerge upon the finding success.

Due to the obscurity of the Coronavirus and the risks posed by a potential infection, the vaccines developers at Inovio Pharmaceuticals are posing an alternative method for the vaccine’s composition and administration. First, unlike most vaccines, Inovio’s coronavirus vaccine will not contain the actual virus, rather it will be composed of a combination of genetic materials that may resemble those present when the body is exposed to coronavirus to eliminate the risk that a person could infected. Next, rather than injected the vaccine deep into a person’s arm, they will inject their vaccine only skin deep into a participant’s arm. Additionally, once the vaccine is injected, it will be activated or “given a zap” by an electrical to device. Finally, after the. vaccine is administered, the researchers will evaluate the vaccine’s DNA to determine its effectiveness and the ability of a participant’s immune system to react to the vaccine.

As a result of the philanthropic partnership between Inovio and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, within weeks, Inovio will be able to produce thousands of batches of the vaccine distribute throughout the country to conduct wider and more expansive trials in the hopes to develop a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine.

Currently, as of April 13, 2020, there have been nearly 1.9 million positive cases of coronavirus reported worldwide, including nearly 558,000 in the United States.