Duke of Cambridge praises vaccine research team
THE Duke of Cambridge has described the prospect of indefinite social distancing without a virus vaccine, as “quite frightening”, as he praised scientists working “non-stop” in Oxford.
The Duke, who told experts the public would breathe a “huge sigh of relief ” if they were able to “crack it”, praised the “incredibly exciting and fascinating” developments in fast-moving research into Covid-19.
Wearing a mask – the first senior member of the Royal family to be photographed doing so while working – he passed on the thanks of his “very proud” family for the hard work.
‘When it is announced that you have cracked it, people will breathe a huge sigh of relief’
The Duke visited the Oxford Vaccine Group’s facility at the Churchill Hospital yesterday, wearing a protective coat and goggles to tour the laboratory, where samples from the clinical trial are being examined by researchers.
Meeting Prof Sarah Gilbert, who is leading the trial, and Prof Andrew Pollard, director of the Vaccine Group, the Duke asked why they were “so far ahead” in the race to find a vaccine.
“I was speaking to an expert the other day who said there were 1.5 million potential viruses that could hop from animals into humans,” he said. “Hopefully this will be a wake up call to people.”
Saying the Covid-19 vaccine was “pretty straightforward” compared to some other diseases, Prof Pollard suggested that without a vaccine, “there is nothing we could do apart from social distancing forever”.
“Quite frightening,” said the Duke. “When it is announced that you have cracked it, people will breathe a huge sigh of relief. People want there to be some sort of finality to it,” the Duke said.