The team at Oxford University, which oversees the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, has reportedly announced a decline in infection rates. This will make it considerably more difficult to prove its effectiveness and obtain successful results from the vaccine development trial.

According to the director of Jenner Institute of the university, Professor Adrian Hill, the institute announced previously about the possible launch of the effective vaccine by September, with 80% chances. However, currently, there is a 50% chance of obtaining no results at all. He expects less than 50 out of the 10,000 volunteers in the vaccine trial to catch the coronavirus in the coming weeks. He reportedly added that if the trial shows positive cases of less than 20 people, the results may be of little use.

Developers across the globe are presently working on around 100 experimental COVID-19 vaccines. The British government has decided to pay for over 100 million doses, noting that 30 million doses may be available by September. The daily rate of new infections in Britain has dropped by nearly 2/3rd since it reached a peak of around 9,000 new cases on 10th April. Additionally, the Oxford University may reportedly join Moderna in July for a large-scale testing programme.

Meanwhile, the vaccine alliance, Gavi’s head, Seth Berkley, has stated that the 1st indications of the effectiveness of the potential vaccine are expected to be available in autumn, despite the uncertainty of whether there will be any developed vaccine or not. The availability of the large quantities of the vaccine for the entire population after achieving an approved active substance will reportedly consume more time. He further added that there is a need to form an international agreement to enhance the manufacturing capacity to rapidly offer the vaccine once it has been developed.

Dr. Berkley also urged the World Health Organization to issue proper guidelines on the use and distribution of the vaccine to make it equally available to the general public.

Source credit: https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/oxford-university-vaccine-trials-hit-hurdle-first-signs-of-effective-vaccine-may-come