Oxford’s coronavirus vaccine trial hits roadblock; low community transmission leaves only 50% chance
Of the 10 vaccine candidates that have progressed to human trials globally, six are in China and it is the only country to have a candidate now firmly into phase two of trials.
FollowThe much talked about Oxford University's vaccine trial to treat coronavirus patients has only a 50% chance of success because of low community transmission of COVID-19 in Britain.
There are nearly 224 vaccines in development in various countries and institutes around the world where Oxford University's vaccine is considered among the leaders in the race.
However, Prof Adrian Hill, director of the university's Jenner Institute, said an upcoming Oxford vaccine trial, involving 10,000 volunteers, threatened to return "no result" due to low transmission of COVID-19 in the community, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Given the declining rate of COVID-19, Prof Hill said that his team now faced a major hurdle, in coming up with a vaccine in the set deadline of September.
"It is a race, yes. But it is not a race against the other guys. It is a race against the virus disappearing, and against time," he said. "At the moment, there's a 50 per cent chance that we get no result at all."
"We are in the bizarre position of wanting COVID to stay, at least for a little while. But cases are declining," added Prof Hill as quoted by The Sydney Morning Herald.
Despite certain apprehensions, countries across the globe are rushing their vaccine projects, and some including China and the US have even announced a tentative date.
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