COVID-19 Vaccine Frontrunner: Oxford University Jab Safe For Even People With A Weak Immune System

London: It seems we are inching closer to getting a vaccine for coronavirus, which has thrown a massive challenge to researchers and scientists all over the world.

As per the latest information, work is in progress for more than 150 probable vaccines for the deadly virus, with India and China also joining the race. Of these, 130 are at the pre-clinical stage, 13 at Phase I, nine in Phase II and three have managed to reach Phase III.

The Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine, which is considered to be the ‘frontrunner’ by World Health Organization, is undergoing phase III trials and a leading scientist involved with the project has said the jab is considered safe even for people with a weak immune system.

“We have removed some of the adenovirus genes so that when we use it as a vaccine, the adenovirus can’t spread through the body. That makes it very safe, even in people with a weak immune system. But because it is still a live virus, it is good at inducing a strong immune response after vaccination,” said Professor Sarah Gilbert, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Oxford University, during an informal discussion with ambassadors of the UN member states.