A GlaxoSmithKline executive said the Ebola vaccine would not be immediately available to control the outbreak in time.

GSK Vaccine Research head Dr. Ripley Ballou said the vaccine for Ebola may not be available before the year ends.

The availability of the drug to combat the epidemic is extremely crucial at the moment as more people are being affected. According to the World Health Organization, more than 9,000 people have been affected after the Ebola outbreak. WHO also said 4,500 people have died due to the virus.

Like Us on Facebook

WHO also added the number of cases occurring per week is expected to reach 10,000 by early December.

GSK has been making efforts to shorten vaccine trial periods. The multinational company has been conducting research in its laboratories outside Brussels. Normally, it takes 10 years for vaccine trials to be completed. However, with the urgent need of the Ebola vaccine, trials have been reduced to 12 months.

Meanwhile, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Professor Peter Piot showed concern that the virus could last until 2015. Piot discovered the deadly virus in 1976.

The vaccine has already been given to volunteers working in UK, the US and Africa. GSK has also collaborated with National Institutes of Health in the US for the production of 10,000 doses. However, the results of the new doses are still on trial outcome.

GSK and WHO have had talks earlier in March after the news of the Ebola outbreak was first reported. The pharmaceuticals giant discussed with the organization regarding the immediate development of the Ebola vaccine.

However, both did not agree over the vaccine’s accelerated development as they expected the virus would be controlled in a few months period.

Dr. Ballou said he was disappointed with the earlier decision. He also added that immediate action should have been made. Furthermore, he said it will take some time to determine the effectiveness of the vaccine including the right dosage to be administered to an infected patient.

BBC News cited Dr. Ballou as saying that the GSK Ebola vaccine cannot be the major answer to control the virus. The report also added Ballou saying that it would take until 2016 before vaccine doses for general use would be made available.

TagsGlaxoSmithKline, BBC News, Dr. Ripley Ballou, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Professor Peter Piot, National Institutes of Health