Update on Oxford University Coronavirus Vaccine Program
Sarah Gilbert, professor of virology at Oxford University gave an update in the medical journal The Lancet today. They have started human trials and expect to have vaccinated 500 volunteers by mid-May, will then vaccinate volunteers 55 to 70 years old, then over 70. They expect to have 5,000 volunteers vaccinated in the program, and are cooperating with researchers in other countries to begin parallel programs. They are sharing their data to other virologists.
Gilbert says they can still have manufactured vaccines available by September, but say that is a best case scenario. Grants have already be made to scale up manufacturing capacity. I understand that there are 20 vaccine programs around the globe under way.
Fingers and toes crossed.