MarchThe headquarters of German biotech firm CureVac in Tübingen, Germany. According to German media outlet Welt am Sonntag, US President Donald Trump sought exclusive access for the United States to a potential coronavirus vaccine under development by CureVac. The issue caused diplomatic ripples with the German government, which wanted the potential vaccine to be available for Europe and other countries as well, not just for the United States. The company registered for Phase 2 trials of their mRNA vaccine in AugustImage by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
AprilAbout 220 volunteers from Wuhan, China, the city that is the epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic, participate in clinical trials of a vaccine candidate developed in the Asian country, which went into Phase 2 of human clinical trials in AprilImage by TPG/Getty Images
AprilRegistered nurse Heather Hoppe was one among the 2,000 frontline staff from the Fiona Stanley Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and the Perth Children’s Hospital in Australia who participated in a research trial to test whether an existing tuberculosis vaccine could help against contracting Covid-19. Half the participants received the existing Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine in addition to their flu vaccine, while the other half received the regular flu shot.Image by Paul Kane/Getty Images
AprilRobert Langer, co-founder of biotech firm Moderna at his Cape Cod residence in Massachusetts, US. Moderna was one of the first companies to react to the Covid-19 outbreak back in January. Along with the NIH (National Institute of Health), it began working on an mRNA vaccine candidate even before the first coronavirus cases outside of China had been confirmed. This potential Covid-19 vaccine has since entered Phase 3 of clinical trials, secured a funding boost of almost $500 million and been fast-tracked through regulatory protocols by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Image by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
MayIn Germany, people demonstrate in front of the Reichstag building (which houses the German Parliament) against compulsory vaccination and the “freedom-limiting” measures of the Federal Government in the context of the spread of Covid-19Image by Kay Nietfeld/Picture Alliance via Getty Images
MayA research scientist at Verndari Inc, a biopharmaceutical company in Napa, California in the United States, tests VaxiPatch, a pantented, painless microneedle array derm patch that can be applied to the arm. In April, Verndari, in collaboration with the University of California, Davis, began pre-clinical testing of potential Covid-19 vaccine that can be adminstered through VaxiPatchImage by Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
MayIn May, even as the pandemic continued to worsen, supporters of US President Donald Trump rallied to reopen California. Seen here is a protestor holding up an anti-vaccination sign. The protesters, organised by an activist group Latinos 4 Trump 2020, asked for the restrictions on business, social distancing and recreational movement to be removedImage by David McNew/Getty Images
JuneChristoph Hueck, a German molecular biologist, speaks to journalists during an interview in Stuttgart, Germany. Hueck, a prominent voice among those opposed to mandatory vaccinations, has addressed mass protests in Stuttgart against lockdown measures, which he claims are an instrument of government control. He has also questioned the role of Microsoft Founder Bill Gates, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in coronavirus vaccine research. Bill Gates has become a central target of many conspiracy theorists world overImage by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
JulyA researcher at the National Primate Research Center of Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, which is leading the development of a homegrown Covid-19 vaccine in the country. The vaccine candidate went through the animal testing phase with evaluations on mice, followed by monkeys. Thailand says it is likely to begin human clinical trials in OctoberImage by Chaiwat Subprasom/Sopa Images/Lightrocket via Getty Images
JulyA group of traditional healers protest against vaccine trials on humans in Africa at the Wits University in Johannesburg, South Africa. The first phase of clinical trials in Africa was for the vaccine developed by the Jenner Institute at Oxford University, UK, and it began on June 24 in South AfricaImage by Sharon Seretlo/Gallo Images via Getty Images
