Ireland could be using a new 'variant-proof' COVID-19 vaccine by the autumn.
That's according to Professor Luke O'Neill, professor of biochemistry at Trinity College Dublin.
Both Pfizer and Moderna are working on Omicron-specific injections, whereas there has also been a push for a universal jab.
The US Army is leading the race to find a vaccination that will work against all coronavirus variants.
The vaccine has shown positive results on animals, with human trial data expected any day.
The new drug was shown to protect against SARS - the original virus - SARS-CoV-2, Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omicron in monkeys.
Prof O'Neill told Pat Kenny if all goes to plan, this could be used in Ireland later this year.
"We're waiting with bated breath - so that's definitely the one that's the most exciting, the universal COVID vaccine.
"I thought the data would be out by now, by the way.
"But... their animal data was really impressive - they've human data coming very soon.
"Now this could be the answer - there's at least nine universal vaccines in development.
"But the US Army have got very interesting technology, they're using these nano-particles - very high tech.
"And the efficacy in the animals was remarkable, so we'll see now if that's going to work in humans.
"That could be the one that will become the vaccine we'll use here, for instance, in autumn maybe if all the trials work out."
