LONDON (UK) – The University of Oxford said possible COVID-19 vaccine could be brought out by the end of the year but it couldn’t be confirmed at this stage, the lead developer of the vaccine said on Tuesday.
Data showed on Monday that the experimental vaccine licensed to AstraZeneca, created an immune response in the early-stage of clinical trials. It was indicated that such a positive outcome could be in use by the end of the year.
Sarah Gilbert told BBC Radio, “The end of the year target for getting vaccine rollout, it’s a possibility but there’s absolutely no certainty about that because we need three things to happen.”
She added that it needed to be shown to work in trials in the late stage. Large quantities need to be manufactured and license for the same has to be given by regulators at the earliest for emergency use.
“All of these three things have to happen and come together before we can start seeing large numbers of people vaccinated,” she said.
The Oxford scientists have been trying their hand at a million doses to bring out a potential vaccine to be produced by September.
Though the deal with AstraZeneca has given the capacity for manufacturing the same, the prevalence of the coronavirus in Britain has been comparatively low has further complicated the process of proving its efficacy.
Late-stage trials are on in Brazil and South Africa and are likely to start in the United States.
John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at the University of Oxford, told BBC Radio, “The crucial thing is that we get enough people exposed to the virus who’ve also had the vaccine that we can actually get some proper adjudication of whether it prevents the disease and remains safe.”
“We’re hopeful, particularly given the low incident rates in the UK that the individuals recruited in Brazil and South Africa will ultimately be able to provide us with the data.”
No vaccines have been approved for COVID-19 yet, but the World Health Organization has said AstraZeneca’s shot is one of the leading candidates.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.