The way ahead for vaccine

The Oxford vaccine has cleared phases 1 and 2 of its human trials, which means it is safe and showing some immune response. The final, phase 3, trials are now under way in the UK, US, Brazil and South Africa to see if it can neutralise the coronavirus.

Scientists are testing on more than 10,000 people in Britain, 5,000 in Brazil, more than 2,000 in South Africa and 30,000 in the US.

Once 50,000 people are in trials there will be more statistical power to get a result by the end of the year, if not sooner, although researchers at Oxford say they are running out of doses, which is hampering the vaccine trials.

If the results prove positive, the vaccine will need to be authorised by the European Medicines Agency and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

The normally lengthy process of regulation could be bypassed for the vaccine on compassionate and emergency clauses.

In April, the Government issued guidance on more flexible approaches to the regulation process during the pandemic, which will help speed up production of a vaccine.