Oxford vaccine trial: ‘Possibility’ of a vaccine by Christmas 2020

The Oxford vaccine trial has two corona virus vaccines in the lead to becoming the first vaccines going out to public in the coming months. As it stands, Andrew Pollard, the vaccine trial chief investigator says there is a ‘Small change’ the vaccine could be ready by Christmas time 2020.

Scientists across the world are still cracking down on creating a safe and effective corona virus vaccine as soon as possible. At present, no vaccines have been given out to the public as trials continue to go on however, one trial is looking very promising.

Both of the two vaccines have not arose any health concerns so far according to testers and find themselves in the late stages of clinical trials. These will still both need to go through regulators which will make sure it is completely safe prior to starting giving doses to public.

Although research shows promising results, it is not entirely clear whether these vaccines will completely stop people from catching the corona virus. Kate Bingham, who is chair of the UK Taskforce, believes these vaccines will ‘Work to some degree’ but will likely help to reduce the severity of symptoms and cases rather than being a total solution.

Prime minister Boris Johnson is among those promising us a vaccine by early 2021 and there is an almost certainty we are on track to see these results by summertime 2021.

Members of the public are hopeful are hopeful to see a breakthrough soon to stop the possibility of another lockdown being enforced on the country after December 2020. Benjamin Philips, a member of the Barnsley Community told us, ‘Everyone is hopeful for Christmas but with another lockdown, no one knows when this will end, and if a vaccine will fully fix it. We all just want some kind of normality back, hopefully that’s what the vaccine will bring’

Although the future of a corona virus vaccine isn’t certain just yet, what is certain is we need a solution to stop the rapid spread of the corona virus and we need one sooner rather than later.