The death toll from COVID-19 in the United States is now over 148,000.

There has been some good news in the last few days as scientists try to develop a vaccine to beat back the coronavirus. Thousands of people are taking part in late stage trials at dozens of sites across the U.S.

Scientists in China, the U-K and other countries are also hard at work. And just last week the world renowned scientist Dr. David Ho announced progress on antibodies that could result in treating and preventing the deadly virus.

To discuss:

• Peter Chin-Hong is a professor of medicine and an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco.
• Benjamin Neuman is the head of the biology department at Texas A&M University-Texarkana.
• Joseph Williams is senior news editor for U.S. News & World Report.

For More: 

"We will share our vaccine with the world," says SinoVac CEO Yin Weidong.

Inside the Chinese biotech firm leading the fight against COVID-19 https://t.co/mjBrwOobtD

— TIME (@TIME) July 28, 2020

It may be six months or a year from now, but when scientists do crack the code, who will get the COVID-19 vaccine first? It could be the beginning of a staggering new logistical and ethical problem.https://t.co/hlPgSD30mN

— Toronto Star (@TorontoStar) July 28, 2020