Oxford University leading the race for COVID-19 vaccine, hopes to have one by September 2020

Published by BBN Staff at April 29, 2020

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Posted: Wednesday, April 29, 2020. 1:10 pm CST.

By BBN Staff: Oxford University is leading the global race to find a vaccine for COVID-19, according to a recently published article by CBS.

Oxford reportedly had a headstart in developing the vaccine due to technology it had used in prior experiments including viruses that are closely related to COVID-19. CBS explained that the vaccine takes the coronavirus’ genetic material and injects it into a common cold virus that has been neutralized so it cannot spread in people. The immune system would respond to fight the modified virus and provide the body some protection from COVID-19.

The team at Oxford is already conducting human trials for their vaccine with the hope of making it widely available by September. The human trials consist of 1,100 participants of whom 550 were given the vaccine and another 550 given a placebo. The human trials began after the vaccine proved effective on monkeys who were exposed to heavy quantities of COVID-19.

“Well personally, I have a high degree of confidence about this vaccine, because it’s technology that I’ve used before,” said Sarah Gilbert, a professor of vaccinology at the university.

CBS noted that a pharmaceutical company in India, reportedly the largest one in the world, is proceeding with manufacturing large quantities of the Oxford vaccine even before the tests prove that it works. Those vaccines may be produced as early as next month.

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