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Coronavirus vaccine
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Coronavirus vaccine trial by Oxford, AstraZeneca prompts immune response

  • In research published in The Lancet, Oxford University said its experimental Covid-19 vaccine produced a dual immune response for at least two months
  • Chinese researchers also published a study on their experimental Covid-19 vaccine, using a similar technique as the Oxford scientists

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Blood samples from coronavirus vaccine trials are handled at the Jenner Institute in Oxford, England. Scientists at Oxford University say their experimental coronavirus vaccine has shown promising results. Photo: AP
Associated Press
Scientists at Oxford University say their experimental coronavirus vaccine has been shown in an early trial to prompt a protective immune response in hundreds of people who got the shot.
British researchers first began testing the vaccine in April in about 1,000 people, half of whom got the experimental vaccine. Such early trials are usually designed only to evaluate safety, but in this case experts were also looking to see what kind of immune response was provoked.

In research published on Monday in the journal The Lancet, scientists said they found their experimental Covid-19 vaccine produced a dual immune response in people aged 18 to 55 that lasted at least two months after they were immunised.

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“We are seeing good immune response in almost everybody,” said Dr Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute at Oxford University. “What this vaccine does particularly well is trigger both arms of the immune system.”

Dr Adrian Hill, Director of the Jenner Institute at Oxford University. Scientists say their experimental coronavirus vaccine has been shown to prompt a protective immune response. Photo: AP
Dr Adrian Hill, Director of the Jenner Institute at Oxford University. Scientists say their experimental coronavirus vaccine has been shown to prompt a protective immune response. Photo: AP
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Hill said that neutralising antibodies are produced – molecules which are key to blocking infection. In addition, the vaccine also causes a reaction in the body’s T-cells which help to fight off the coronavirus.

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