Researchers hope for vaccine relief

Sector cautiously optimistic over coronavirus jabs as it looks ahead to spending review and recovery

Signs that potential Covid-19 vaccines and rapid tests may work much better than anticipated have led to glimmers of optimism among researchers that the pandemic can be controlled. 

In the last fortnight US-based companies Pfizer and Moderna have reported high efficacy for their vaccine candidates, and there have been cautious signs of progress on rapid testing. The developments have raised hopes for a return to more normality in the university sector as well as society as a whole.