Professor Ian Frazer, who developed the HPV vaccine, says allowing the “controlled” spread of COVID-19 is the only way to get through the pandemic while Australians wait for a vaccine. 

The University of Queensland immunologist advocates a gradual easing of lockdown restrictions while gaining some herd immunity in a controlled way, as a vaccine is at least 12-18 months away. 

“I think we’ll have to beat the current epidemic without the vaccine because realistically, we’re not going to sit still in our houses without social contact for the next 12-18 months,” he told Nine News’ Today program.

“And we’ll probably have to let restrictions relax gradually, let the virus spread through the community gradually while we control it and hope that we get herd immunity.”