STRONGEST HOPE YET

The report of the Phase 1 trial suggests the vaccine developed by researchers at Oxford University may be the biggest boost yet in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic

HOW WAS IT TRIALLED?

The Phase 1 trial involved 1,077 healthy adults aged 18-55 with no history of Covid-19.

Among these, 543 received the vaccine while 534 people were given a non-Covid vaccine to serve as a control group

THE OUTCOME

A single dose led to antibodies by day 28 and there was a marked increase in Sars-Cov-2 spike-specific T cell response as early as day 7, peaking at day 14 and maintained up to day 56.

The vaccine caused minor side effects, which could be reduced by taking paracetamol. There were no serious adverse events from the jab.

WHAT THIS MEANS

The fact the vaccine also triggered a T cell response is an encouraging sign. A T cell response means the vaccine was able to stimulate the part of the immunity that ‘learns’.

STILL UNKNOWN

The researchers said more study is needed to check if this vaccine is enough to prevent an infection (it has been shown to lead to a response that can fight the infection)

WHAT NEXT

Phase 2 and 3 trials are now underway to test how the vaccine behaves among people of different age groups and ethnicities as well those who might have some underlying health conditions.

We hope this means the immune system will remember the virus, so that our vaccine will protect people for an extended period. However, we need more research before we can confirm the vaccine effectively protects against Sars-Cov-2 infection, and for how long any protection lasts

- Andrew Pollard, University of Oxford professor