Much hope is deposited in this vaccine that began to be tested in humans today, by scientists at the University of Oxford. The UK already has more than 138,078 people infected and 18,738 deaths and, in the world, in the total registered by WHO, they have suffered more than 190 thousand.
According to the World Health Organization, there are currently about 70 vaccines in development, several are already being tested on humans.
Volunteers are already vaccinated against COVID-19
Volunteers who applied to contract COVID-19 began receiving the test vaccine in the UK today. This Thursday in Oxford, two volunteers were the first of more than 800 people who will test this vaccine in the coming weeks. The research team is optimistic.
To stop this pandemic state, which has caused hundreds of deaths, the British Government has made available £ 20 million to the team of scientists to finance clinical trials.
At the same time, we will invest in production capacity, so that if any of these vaccines work safely, we can make it available to the British people as soon as it is humanly possible.
Hancock said.
The information, however, is of caution, given that only an eventual result is expected for September. Subsequently, in case of success, the vaccine will be sent for production. Therefore, it will not be a solution for before the end of the year.
Vaccine will be given against COVID-19 and meningitis
According to BBC, half of these people will receive the vaccine against COVID-19, while the other half will be tested with a control vaccine that protects against meningitis, but not against coronavirus.
Volunteers will not know what vaccine they receive, although doctors are aware.
The vaccine was developed in less than three months by a team at the University of Oxford. British Health Minister Matt Hancock announced the start of testing this week and said that "the advantages of being the first country in the world to develop a successful vaccine are so great that we are investing all possible resources".
As mentioned, this vaccine is manufactured from a weakened version of a virus from a common cold (known as adenovirus) of chimpanzees, which has been modified so that it cannot develop in humans.
And couldn't the volunteers be injected with the virus?
Asked whether it would be more effective to inject the virus into volunteers, the Oxford team rejected.
It would be a quick and sure way to find out if the vaccine was effective, but it is ethically questionable because there are no treatments for Covid-19.
Said Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, a scientist who leads this phase of the trial.
Scientists are concerned with keeping volunteers safe. Thus, these will be closely monitored in the near future.
Scientists will give priority to recruiting, as volunteers, health professionals. These are a group more prone to exposure to the virus.
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