Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine trials resume

Oxford University has announced that clinical trials of its coronavirus vaccine, under development with British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, are to resume in the UK.

The late-stage trials were briefly halted last Sunday to allow an independent committee to review safety data when a volunteer fell ill.

Matt Hancock welcomed the restart of the vaccine trial being developed with AstraZeneca, tweeting: "Good news for everyone, the Oxford vaccine trials are back up and running. This pause shows we will always put safety first. We will back our scientists to deliver an effective vaccine as soon as safely possible."

The trial was paused across the UK, Brazil, South Africa and the US, prompting nervousness around the development of a vaccine for coronavirus, which has killed over 910,000 people worldwide.

Oxford and AstraZeneca are among the frontrunners in the race to provide a jab that immunises against Covid-19. Their vaccine has cleared Phase One and Two human trials and progressed to the third phase, in which it is being tested on participants internationally.

In a press release confirming the resumption of the trials on Saturday, Oxford University said the pause had given time for a "review of safety data by an independent safety review committee, and the national regulators".

It added: "Globally, some 18,000 individuals have received study vaccines as part of the trial. In large trials such as this, it is expected that some participants will become unwell, and every case must be carefully evaluated to ensure careful assessment of safety.

"The independent review process has concluded and, following the recommendations of both the independent safety review committee and UK regulator the MHRA, the trials will recommence in the UK.

"We cannot disclose medical information about the illness for reasons of participant confidentiality. We are committed to the safety of our participants and the highest standards of conduct in our studies and will continue to monitor safety closely."

Meanwhile, experts expressed concern at the growing anti-vaccination rhetoric following "savvy" disinformation campaigns online.

Prof Heidi Larson, the chair of the Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, warned that current polling suggests 15 per cent of people around the world would "instinctively refuse" the vaccine owing to the well-funded anti-vax movement.

"The well-choreographed anti-vaccine groups have sophisticated and coordinated communication strategies, are well financed, in some parts have celebrity endorsement, and are adept at using emotional imagery and messaging," Prof Larson said.

"The same levels of investment, communications networking, savvy outreach and engagement are urgently needed around a new Covid-19 vaccine if we want to optimise its impact."

Details of the illness suffered by one of the Oxford/AstraZeneca trial's ­volunteers still remain unclear. According to reports, a volunteer was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, an inflammatory syndrome that ­affects the spinal cord and can be caused by viral infections.

But the cause of the illness has not been confirmed and an independent investigation will work out if there was any link to the vaccine.

Peter Openshaw, a professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, said: "It is a great relief to hear that the Oxford adenovirus vaccine trial has been restarted, and reassuring that the checks and balances built into the trial were effective.

"It was right to suspended the trial to allow investigation. The restarting of the trial shows that the event was judged not to be vaccine-related.

"This is excellent news because the Oxford vaccine is one of the most promising. A huge amount of investment has been made in it already, not only by Astra Zeneca and the world-class investigators but also by the volunteers and their families. I am so glad all this effort has not been wasted.

"Inevitably with such a large trial, there will be times when safety issues arise. We must all hope that there are no future events and that the vaccine proves both safe and effective and that vaccines become available for Covid-19.

"It can be such a nasty disease, both in the short and long term. I do hope we can prevent it and get back to normal life."