A CORONAVIRUS vaccine could be “widely available” by September, a top researcher has cautiously predicted.
Scientists in Oxford believe they have made a breakthrough after discovering the jab they are developing could provide "double protection" against the virus, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The phase one trial in healthy adult volunteers, which began in April, showed the vaccine generated an immune response, with blood samples indicating it stimulated the body to produce both antibodies and "killer T-cells".
The combination of the two responses "will hopefully keep people safe", a source told the paper.
David Carpenter, chairman of the Berkshire Research Ethics Committee, which approved the Oxford trial and continues to work with scientists on amendments, told the paper that the team were "absolutely on track".
He added: "Nobody can put final dates ... things might go wrong but the reality is that by working with a big pharma company, that vaccine could be fairly widely available around September and that is the sort of target they are working on."
READ MORE: 63 workers who shared flight with staff from Covid-hit farm went to Scotland
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said teams were working towards a "best case scenario" of a vaccine being made available some time this year, although conceded it was more likely in 2021.
Speaking on ITV's Peston yesterday evening, Hancock said: "We're all working towards the best case scenario, we're all giving AstraZeneca and the team at Oxford, and the Imperial vaccine, every possible support, we're working with the other potential vaccines around the world, in America, and Germany, and the Netherlands.
"We're working with them to ensure that if they come off first, that we'll get access to them here.
"But this is an inexact science and it's at risk."
He said the most clinically vulnerable, such as the elderly, and healthcare workers would be the first to get the vaccine, and added that he is expanding the list of professionals who can legally vaccinate, which will include not just GPs but also technicians, nurses and pharmacists.
Nurses and pharmacists can already administer certain vaccinations without a prescription from a doctor.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel