Oxford...

Andrew Pollard, head of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said in a statement: “The clinical studies are progressing very well and we are now initiating studies to evaluate how well the vaccine induces immune responses in older adults, and to test whether it can provide protection in the wider population. We are very grateful to the huge support of the trial volunteers in helping test whether this new vaccine could protect humans against the pandemic coronavirus.”

Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the Jenner Institute at Oxford University, added: “The Covid-19 vaccine trial team have been working hard on assessing the safety and immunogenicity of Chadox1 ncov-19, and preparing to assess vaccine efficacy. We have had a lot of interest already from people over the age of 55 years who were not eligible to take part in the Phase I study, and we will now be able to include older age groups to continue the vaccine assessment.”

Adult participants in both the Phase II and Phase III groups will be randomised to receive one or two doses of either the Chadox1 ncov-19 vaccine or a licensed vaccine (MENACWY) that will be used as a “control” for comparison. The experts said Chadox1 ncov-19 is made from a virus (Chadox1) which is a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) that causes infections in chimpanzees, that has been genetically changed so that it is impossible for it to replicate in humans.

The university has tied up with biopharma major Astrazeneca to produce the vaccine on a mass scale, if the results are successful.

Earlier this week, results of the animal trials of the vaccine on pre-print server biorxiv said that while the vaccine seemed to protect the monkeys from developing pneumonia, one of the conditions brought about by Covid-19 in people, it does not appear to stop them from being infected, nor prevent them from being transmitters.

UNIVERSITY HAS TIED UP WITH BIOPHARMA MAJOR ASTRAZENECA TO PRODUCE THE VACCINE ON A MASS SCALE, IF THE RESULTS ARE SUCCESSFUL