Trial begins into vaccine against COVID-19 variant
A trial has begun at sites, including Oxford, for a vaccine against a COVID-19 variant.
The University of Oxford and AstraZeneca vaccine targets the B.1.351 variant of concern, also known as the Beta variant.
The Phase II/III trial will recruit about 140 people at Oxford Vaccine Group. A total of 2,250 will be recruited in the UK, South Africa, Brazil and Poland.
Volunteers who have and have not had existing vaccines are taking part. The new vaccine has been created from the original vaccine with minor genetic alterations to the spike protein.
Dr Maheshi Ramasamy, Principal Investigator at the Oxford Vaccine Group, said: “The UK vaccine roll out programme has been incredibly successful at preventing hospitalisations and deaths, but we don’t know how long protection lasts. This study will provide vital evidence on whether further doses including ‘tweaks’ against new virus variants may be needed in the future.”
