The first human trial in Europe of a coronavirus vaccine has begun in Oxford.

Two volunteers were injected, the first of more than 800 people recruited for the study.

Half 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.

Elisa Granato, one of the two who received the jab, told the BBC: "I'm a scientist, so I wanted to try to support the scientific process wherever I can."

The vaccine was developed in under three months by a team at Oxford University. Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the Jenner Institute, led the pre-clinical research.

"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."

Prof Gilbert previously said she was "80% confident" the vaccine would work, but now prefers not to put a figure on it, saying simply she is "very optimistic" about its chances.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygOULxGgU0w

So how does the vaccine work?

The 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.

The Oxford team has already developed a vaccine against Mers, another type of coronavirus, using the same approach - and that had promising results in clinical trials.

How will they know if it works?

The only way the team will know if the Covid-19 vaccine works is by comparing the number of people who get infected with coronavirus in the months ahead from the two arms of the trial.

That could be a problem if cases fall rapidly in the UK, because there may not be enough data.

Prof Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, who is leading the trial, said: "We're chasing the end of this current epidemic wave. If we don't catch that, we won't be able to tell whether the vaccine works in the next few months. But we do expect that there will be more cases in the future because this virus hasn't gone away."

domDva:
This is the difference between knowledge based economy run in the West and Religion based economy run in Africa.

The funny thing is that even the miracle working pastors are also isolating and hoping for vaccine to be discovered by a prayerless Westerners.

Wake up Africa wake up.

sammyj:
If UK get this vaccine sorted out first . Then the Americans and the Chinese will have a lot to loose!! The world power might to UK if care is not taken as everyone will look towards them!

Jashub:
[s][/s] Rubbish and baseless

seunmsg:
I hope it works. The only permanent solution to this CoronaVirus is a vaccine. Without it, there will very likely be another outbreak after this one is contained.

Dtribeless:


Incorrect assertion! It's bombs that makes world powers these days, not cures for disease. UK medicine is already among the topmost so not much will change.

sammyj:
So the curr for thys biological weapons isn't good enough to make you world power !!!

sammyj:
If UK get this vaccine sorted out first . Then the Americans and the Chinese will have a lot to loose!! The world power might to UK if care is not taken as everyone will look towards them!

domDva:
This is the difference between knowledge based economy run in the West and Religion based economy run in Africa.

The funny thing is that even the miracle working pastors are also isolating and hoping for vaccine to be discovered by prayerless Westerners.

Wake up Africa wake up.

domDva:
Spotted ....one of those caged by the corn artists and manipulate pastorprepreneurs.



I

domDva:
This is the difference between knowledge based economy run in the West and Religion based economy run in Africa.

The funny thing is that even the miracle working pastors are also isolating and hoping for vaccine to be discovered by prayerless Westerners.

Wake up Africa wake up.

Daddysidhan:
what about your imams and sheik with their black powder abi Allah is not Akbar again.

honeyB2018:



Domdva

I don't know why people like you, love to take a swipe at the pastors, when they have not been given opportunity to demonstrates their God given power over Covid 19.
Pastors were asked to close down their churches, those who dare to open them are, harassed, arrested, taken to courts and are fined. So why blame and castigate them?
By the way, are there not medical conditions, that are beyond science, technology medication, that God by these lampooned pastors have healed in the past?

domDva:
Examples please ? Forget the TV dramas and give me real documented evidence .....they may be one or 2, not saying science has found answers to all human mysteries but most of our pastors are manipulative fraud.

sammyj:
If UK get this vaccine sorted out first . Then the Americans and the Chinese will have a lot to loose!! The world power might to UK if care is not taken as everyone will look towards them!

domDva:
This is the difference between knowledge based economy run in the West and Religion based economy run in Africa.

The funny thing is that even the miracle working pastors are also isolating and hoping for vaccine to be discovered by prayerless Westerners.

Wake up Africa wake up.

honeyB2018:
You got wrong. Science and technology, as much as they have tried, are yet to find all solution to man's need, including your so called knowledge basd economy.
But God still remains the ultimate power and source of all wisdom and knowledge, which he in bestows to men including the pastors.