Thailand begins coronavirus vaccine trials on monkeys

Could these monkeys hold the answers to controlling the novel coronavirus?

Researchers in Thailand began testing a new vaccine on them on Saturday.

Officials said it followed successful trials in mice.

The country's minsiter for science, research and innovation said researchers hoped to have a 'clearer outcome' of the vaccine's effectiveness by September.

The hope is that it will be in production by next year.

More than 100 potential vaccines for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, are being developed.

Several are in clinical trials - but the World Health Organisation warned in April a vaccine would take at least 12 months.

Thailand was the first country outside China to detect a case of the coronavirus in January.

The government says it wants to be one of the first to have a vaccine ready for use.