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Vaccines

Oxford University's Coronavirus Vaccine: A Breakthrough on the Horizon

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

British scientists working on the coronavirus vaccine have announced that they will know by early summer whether their experimental jab will be effective. The team, led by Oxford University, has partnered with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to produce millions of doses at cost price, ensuring that the UK will be at the front of the queue for access to the vaccine. With hundreds of volunteers already given the experimental injection, the team is hopeful that it will succeed, with Professor Sarah Gilbert stating that she is 80% confident that it will work.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Oxford University team, led by Professor Sarah Gilbert, is working on a coronavirus vaccine that has partnered with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca for mass production.
  • The vaccine involves a weakened version of the common cold containing some of the genetic material of COVID-19, which gets the body to make a protein found on the surface of the virus.
  • With hundreds of volunteers already given the experimental injection, the team expects to get a signal about whether it's working by the middle of June.
  • The deal with AstraZeneca ensures that the vaccine will be produced at cost price throughout the pandemic, with a goal of producing 100 million doses this year.

*Plans are in place to keep 30-30 million doses for vulnerable Brits, with the potential to access 100 million doses by the end of the year.

  • Health Secretary Matt Hancock has described the news as "hugely welcome" and "gives the UK the best chance we can of a breakthrough that could defeat this awful virus."
  • Former director of immunisation at the Department of Health, Professor David Salisbury, commented that if the Oxford vaccine is shown to be safe and effective, it would be of extraordinary importance in protecting the population, assuming each person requires two doses.

Statistics:

  • 80%: Confidence level of Brit boffins that the vaccine will work.
  • 30-30 million doses: Number of doses planned to be kept for vulnerable Brits.
  • 100 million doses: Potential number of doses to be produced this year.
  • 50 million doses: Number of doses needed to protect at-risk individuals, health and social care, and essential service workers.
  • 80 studies: Number of global studies working on a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • 300 clinic trials: Number of worldwide trials looking for a drug cure.

Sources:

  • The Sun: "[breaking news] British scientists working coronavirus vaccine - now have deal with AstraZeneca to roll out jab at cost price after human trials began last week - 1m doses may be enough to make UK safe"
  • BBC: "Coronavirus: Oxford vaccine deal 'gives us the best chance of a breakthrough'"
  • The Sun: "Q&A: Can we get a vaccine? What's the UK doing? How will it be produced? When will one be available?"

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