Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to be tested on children
RESEARCHERS at Oxford University are beginning a new trial to test whether a coronavirus vaccine developed by the university and AstraZeneca also works in children and adolescents. The drug is to be tested on 300 volunteers between the ages of 6 and 17.
Andrew Pollard, professor of paediatric infection and immunity and chief investigator on the Oxford vaccine trial, said that “while most children are relatively unaffected by coronavirus and are unlikely to become unwell with the infection, it is important to establish the safety and immune response to the vaccine in children and young people as some children may benefit from vaccination.”
The first tests are to begin this month. Up to 240 subjects will receive the vaccine, while the rest will receive a control drug.
The vaccine has been used on adults in Britain for weeks.
RESEARCHERS at Oxford University are beginning a new trial to test whether a coronavirus vaccine developed by the university and Astra eneca also works in children and adolescents.
The drug is to be tested on 00 volunteers between the ages of 6 and 1 .
Andrew Pollard, professor of paediatric infection and immunity and chief investigator on the Oxford vaccine trial, said that “while most children are relatively unaffected by coronavirus and are unlikely to become unwell with the infection, it is important to establish the safety and immune response to the vaccine in children and young people as some children may benefit from vaccination.” The first tests are to begin this month. Up to 240 subjects will receive the vaccine, while the rest will receive a control drug.
The vaccine has been used on adults in Britain for weeks.
According to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, COVID-19 can also cause death or serious
illness in children, but this is rare.
Studies have shown that mortality from COVID-19 is
significantly lower in children than in older people.