As coronavirus spreads around the world, health officials and the public have been closely watching Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Moderna's progress. Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in late February that the trials might begin within two months.

"We're working closely with Moderna, with our partners at NIH and with regulators to make sure any vaccine that is developed - I can't underscore this enough - is safe and effective," he said.

Scientists are searching for a breakthrough in the development of a coronavirus vaccine. Credit:AAP

Vaccine developers have said it will take about 12 to 18 months to design and test new vaccinations. Moderna's approach is considered to be among the fastest-moving in the business.

"You never know what might trip a vaccine development program up," such as manufacturing, purification or safety problems, Hatchett said. "What we do know is this one will be the first one to enter clinical trials globally, I'm 99 per cent certain."