Coronavirus: UK Begins COVID-19 Vaccine Trials on human

UK has begun the first human trial of a coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine was developed under three months by a team at Oxford University.

The research was led by Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the Jenner Institute.

“Personally I have a high degree of confidence in this vaccine,” she said.

“Of course, we have to test it and get data from humans. We have to demonstrate it actually works and stops people getting infected with coronavirus before using the vaccine in the wider population,” she added.

The Coronavirus vaccine is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus (known as an adenovirus) from chimpanzees that has been modified so it cannot grow in humans.

Scientist pictured above, Elisa Granato, was the first volunteer to be injected and she said she volunteered because she wanted to try to support the scientific process.

Out of more than 800 people recruited for the study, two human volunteers were injected with the coronavirus vaccine for the trial.

Half of those who volunteered will receive the Covid-19 vaccine, and half a control vaccine which protects against meningitis but not coronavirus.

The design of the trial means volunteers will not know which vaccine they are getting, though doctors will.

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