WHO Unveils Plan On Supply Of COVID-19 Vaccines
A potential Coronavirus, COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University in the United Kingdom has produced a strong immune response in a human trial.
According to a newly released data published Monday in the medical journal The Lancet, the University developed the vaccine in partnership with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.
The researchers who referred to their experimental vaccine as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 said they combined genetic material from the coronavirus with a modified adenovirus that is known to cause infections in chimpanzees.
According to the researchers, the vaccine produced both antibodies and killer T-cells to combat the infection.
The director of Oxford University’s Jenner Institute, Professor Adrian Hill revealed that the strong immune response means the vaccine is more likely to provide protection against the virus.
He said scientists hope to begin human trials in the United States in the next few weeks.
Though United Kingdom Prime Minister, Boris Johnson admitted that there may not even be a coronavirus vaccine ready by the end of next year, there are indications that one would be ready to be rolled out in September.
Johnson claimed he has his fingers crossed that a jab is eventually found but admitted he isn’t 100 per cent confident one will be proven to work.
It was gathered that Ministers on Monday, July 20, 2020, announced deals with two foreign pharmaceutical firms to buy 90million doses of separate experimental vaccine candidates.
An agreement has been reached for 30million doses from German firm BioNTech and the US company Pfizer, and 60million doses from France’s Valneva.
However, UK scientists are ’80 per cent’ confident that a jab could be ready by September.