The world waits for a coronavirus vaccine. But this isn’t the first time it’s taken a little longer than ideal.

For nearly forty years, scientists have searched for a vaccine for HIV, the virus behind the AIDS epidemic. Although they’re still searching, drugs, treatment and technology have made an HIV diagnosis a little better. The good news is that coronavirus shares more in common with other viruses than a devious trickster like HIV... and it all comes down to copying skills.

Written and reported by Brenna Biggs.

References:

Picheta, R. What happens if a coronavirus vaccine is never developed? It has happened before. CNN Health (2020).

Bazell, R. Finding the way again after failed AIDS vaccine. NBC News (2007).

Ries, J. COVID-19 Will Mutate — What That Means for a Vaccine (https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-to-know-about-mutation-and-covid-19#Just-how-long-will-immunity-last?). Healthline (2020).