A potential COVID-19 vaccined trial to begin in UK on Thursday

A potential coronavirus vaccine is due to be “trialed in people” from Thursday, the health secretary has said.

A COVID-19 vaccine known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 will be trialed in UK from Thursday this week, the government reveals.

Speaking at today’s daily Government briefing, the Health Secretary said: ‘In the long run the best way to defeat coronavirus is through a vaccine.

‘After all, this is a new disease. This is uncertain science, but I am certain that we will throw everything we’ve got at developing a vaccine.

‘The UK is at the forefront of a global effort. We’ve put more money than any other country into the global search for a vaccine and, for all the efforts around the world, two of the leading vaccine developments are taking place here at home at Oxford and Imperial [College London].

“Both of these promising projects are making rapid progress and I’ve told the scientists leading them that we’ll do everything in our power to support.”

“First, I am today making £22.5million available to the Imperial project to support their phase two clinical trials… and for them to begin the work on subsequently a very large phase three trial.”

“Second, I am today making available £20million to the Oxford team to fund their clinical trials. The team have accelerated that trial process, working with the regulator, the MHRA, who have been absolutely brilliant, and as a result, I can announce that the vaccine from the Oxford project will be trialled in people from this Thursday.”

“In normal times, reaching this stage would take years and I’m very proud of the work taken so far.” he further added.