Advisory: German institute withdraws report saying COVID-19 vaccine could be available

FILE PHOTO: A woman holds a small bottle labeled with a "Vaccine COVID-19" sticker and a medical syringe in this illustration

By Ludwig Burger

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's infectious disease body, the Robert Koch Institute, on Wednesday retracted a report posted earlier on its website that said a first vaccine against the coronavirus could be available as early as autumn. The report also said it would be dangerous to trust that a vaccination from autumn 2020 can control the pandemic. An institute spokeswoman said the report was posted in error and was withdrawn.

STORY_NUMBER: L8N2FE536

STORY_DATE: 12/08/2020

STORY_TIME: 1509 GMT

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger, editing by Thomas Escritt and Madeline Chambers)