Only white people to be exposed to virus in ‘challenge’ vaccine trial

THE world’s first “challenge” vaccine trial is expected to start in London in the new year, but only young white people will take part.

Up to 90 volunteers will be deliberately exposed to coronavirus at the Royal Free Hospital in early January in order to see how well the jab designed by Imperial College London works.

The challenge method provides results far faster than normal phasethree studies, in which tens of thousands are vaccinated and continue to live normally in the community.

It also allows researchers to monitor participants far more closely.

The study is being backed by £33.6 million of government money, with the candidate vaccine one of several that has received official backing.

The scientists behind the Imperial vaccine said people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds would not be eligible to take part in the first instance because those groups have shown to be at higher risk from Covid-19, theoretically increasing the chances of an adverse outcome if the jab proves not to be protective. Dr Chris

Chieu, principal investigator, said: “There is some very clear data that BAME people may be at higher risk of severe outcomes. We will start off with people who we believe are going to be at the lowest risk, and then gradually increase a greater diversity of individuals as the trial goes on.”

The trial is still waiting for sign-off from an independent ethics committee and regulators.

Prof Peter Openshaw, of Imperial College London, who is co-investigator, said: “I think that it is likely that we will get some answers pretty soon (as to) which vaccines might be effective.”