Army scientists are developing a vaccine they say offers protection against all variants of COVID-19, present and future.

Researchers at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research are expected to make an announcement about the Spike Ferritin Nanoparticle COVID-19 vaccine, or SpFN, in the coming weeks, according to Defense One.

The report said the vaccine uses a soccer ball-shaped protein with 24 faces, allowing scientists to attach the spikes of multiple coronavirus strains to different faces of the protein, and is believed to also be effective against previous SARS-origin viruses.

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“We decided to take a look at the long game rather than just only focusing on the original emergence of SARS, and instead understand that viruses mutate, there will be variants that emerge, future viruses that may emerge in terms of new species. Our platform and approach will equip people to be prepared for that," Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, director of Walter Reed’s infectious diseases branch, told the news outlet.

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(Walter Reed Army Institute of Research)

He said Phase 1 of human trials, which tested SpFN against the new omicron variant and others, was recently completed and its positive results are under review, according to the report. Phases 2 and 3 are expected to follow.

"In addition to its focus on protecting against known and unknown COVID-19 variants, WRAIR’s vaccine also does not require extensive infrastructure to store and transport, remaining viable for extended periods of time in a refrigerator or even at ambient temperature. This advantage makes it ideal for resource poor settings," a page on the WRAIR website says. "Ultimately, WRAIR hopes to transition its vaccine to protect not just from COVID-19 but from all coronavirus diseases, known and unknown, to end the current pandemic and prevent the next one from ever beginning."

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More than 276 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported around the world since the start of the pandemic, and more than 5.3 million deaths have been associated with it, according to data posted by Johns Hopkins University.

With three vaccines already approved or authorized in the United States to prevent COVID-19, more than 204 million people have been fully vaccinated, and roughly 62 million have received a booster shot, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.