WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the original thinking 2 months ago was that it may take 12-18 months for a vaccine. He said this to a UN Economic and Social Council video briefing. He said an accelerated effort is underway, helped by $8 billion pledged. There are around seven or eight "top" candidates for a vaccine to combat Covid-19. Tedros said there is also a consortium of more than 400 scientists involved in vaccine development and diagnostics.