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10:24 a. M.
Wednesday 09 September 2020
London- (BBC):
Final clinical trials of the coronavirus vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, were temporarily halted after one of the trial participants in Britain fell ill.
AstraZeneca described it as a “routine procedure” in the event that a participant had an “unclear illness”.
The results of vaccine trials are closely followed around the world.
The AstraZeneca vaccine and the University of Oxford is considered a strong competitor among the dozens of vaccines that are being developed around the world.
Hopes were high that this vaccine would be the first vaccine to be marketed, after successful first and second stage trials.
And it has participated in the transition to phase 3 testing of the vaccine in recent weeks, about 30 thousand participants in the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa. Phase III vaccine trials often involve thousands of participants and can last several years.
What did the vaccine developers say?
All international test sites have now been temporarily suspended, while an independent investigation reviews safety data before organizers decide whether the tests can be resumed, says BBC Medical Editor Fergus Walsh.
A spokesman for the University of Oxford said: “In large trials, some get sick by accident, but they need to be independently reviewed to monitor them closely.”
And our correspondent indicated that this is the second time that the trial of the Oxford vaccine for the Corona virus has been suspended. Trials are routinely interrupted each time a volunteer is admitted to hospital when the cause of their illness is not immediately clear.
It is believed that the trials could be resumed in a matter of days.
The health site Stat News, which first published the news, said details of the British participant’s negative reaction were not immediately known, but quoted a source as saying that he is expected to recover.
Where are we on the journey to find a vaccine?
US President Donald Trump has said he wants a vaccine available in the United States before the Nov.3 election, but his comments have raised concerns that politics may take precedence over safety in the vaccine rush. .
A group of nine Covid-19 vaccine developers sought to reassure the public Tuesday by announcing a “historic commitment” to uphold scientific and ethical standards when searching for a vaccine.
AstraZeneca was among the nine companies that signed the pledge that sought regulatory approval after the vaccines went through three phases of the clinical study.
Other signatories include Johnson & Johnson, Bio-nTech, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Merck, Moderna, Sanofi, and Novavax.
They pledged to “make the safety and well-being of people our highest priority.”
The World Health Organization says that nearly 180 potential vaccines are being tested worldwide, but clinical trials have yet to be completed.
The organization said it does not expect the vaccine to meet its efficacy and safety guidelines until it is approved this year because of the time it takes to safely test.
Thomas Queenie, CEO of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Societies (ICP), shares the same expectations. The industrial authority represents the companies that signed the commitment.
Despite this, China and Russia have begun vaccinating some key workers with locally developed vaccines. These vaccines are still being included in the clinical trial phase by the World Health Organization.
Meanwhile, the US national regulatory body, the Food and Drug Administration, has suggested that coronavirus vaccines be approved before completing the third phase of clinical trials.
Last week, it was said that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had urged states to consider waiving certain requirements to be ready to distribute a potential vaccine by November 1, two days before the presidential elections on November 3.
Although President Trump hinted that a vaccine might be available before the election, his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, has expressed doubts that Trump will listen to scientists and implement a transparent process.
