Science
All COVID-19 vaccine trials by the University of Oxford and Wuhan show promising early results
There are more positive indicators from ongoing attempts to produce a vaccine that is successful in preventing COVID-19: two early experiments, one from Oxford University and one from a consortium of Wuhan researchers partially sponsored by China's Regional Main R&D Programme.
Both early trials showed effectiveness in that the existence of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that contributes to COVID-19, and also suggested that such prospective vaccinations were secure to administer based on knowledge available.
The research at the University of Oxford is one of the world's leading vaccine development initiatives, and one of the most successful vaccine development efforts. Their survey findings included 1,077 participants, all of whom were safety adults aged 18 to 55 with no previously reported history of contracting SARS-CoV-2.
That 's essential if the vaccine applicant obtained multiple randomized studies, with an approved meningitis vaccine as a placebo-acting guide. Tests revealed that 100 percent of participants around the population had exhibited by the end of the course neutralizing antibody reactions, including a booster.
In fact, although certain participants reported side effects, including "pressure, feeling feverish, chills, stomach ache, fatigue, and malaise," none of these reflected what the researchers deemed to be extreme reactions, and were also mitigated by the usage of paracetamol (standard painkillers accessible on the counter). The patient responses were tracked 28 days after the vaccine was administered.
Oxford 's team is now preparing to push on to their Phase 3 study, which is a large-scale clinical experiment and is essentially the last big stage before going on to eventual acceptance, manufacturing and delivery. This is a time-consuming process, but it puts this development on track for a remarkably rapid process of research and development relative to previous vaccines.
Meanwhile, the study in China included health adults 18 years of age and 603 participants, screened down to 508 who received either the candidate for the vaccine or placebo. According to the study , the participants have had no negative effects and they are now expected to pass on to a Step 3 growth plan as well.
Moderna has revealed positive early findings from its Phase 1 study earlier this month, although that was restricted to just 45 patients aged 18 and 55, suggesting any possibly significant side effects that would need to be observed in subsequent, wider studies. These recent findings are even more promising considering the size of both experiments, but they are still early and need more growth and testing.
However, it is very early to make too many assumptions regarding what these early trials indicate.
For example, in patients who have recovered from COVID-19 once, we still don't really know how effective antibodies are, so much more research is needed by scientists to better understand the long-term effectiveness of antibodies and potentially vaccines.
