‘ Great feeling’ to be involved in helping drug’s development

A TRIAL volunteer said it was a “great feeling” to be involved in the development process as new data suggested a UK- developed Covid- 19 vaccine could be up to 90 per cent effective.

Sarah Hurst, 47, took part in the AstraZeneca and Oxford University research, receiving two jabs of either the experimental vaccine or a placebo.

She said there was a

“tiny sense of pride” at her involvement, but paid tribute to the scientists and researchers who developed the vaccine.

Ms Hurst, a journalist from Goring- on- Thames in South Oxfordshire, said: “It’s really the developers and everyone who’s done all the work, all the medical students who are constantly all day meeting the vaccine participants and testing them and being on the front line.

“But it’s good, it’s a great feeling to help to make a vaccine.”

Jack Sommers, another volunteer on the trial, said it was hard to believe how quickly scientists had developed the vaccine.

“I can’t help but take my hat off to the scientists,” Mr Sommers, 35, said.

“I remember six months ago sitting in a hospital watching a safety video, with Professor Matthew Snape at Oxford University talking in quite careful, deliberate, cautious terms about how this vaccine might work or it might not work.

“Now it seems amazing that we’re here six months later and that jab is very effective at stopping coronavirus.”

The Duke of Cambridge has personally called Oxford researchers to congratulate them on their vaccine breakthrough, telling them: “I’m so thrilled that you’ve cracked it”.

In a video call yesterday, William told the scientists: “Well done, I’m so pleased for all of you, I really am.”