THE VACCINE developed in Oxford University and being trialled in Brazil is to go ahead despite the death of a volunteer.
Reports of the death of a volunteer involved in the coronavirus vaccine emerged earlier this week, however a statement released by the University implies that the trial will continue.
The Covid-19 immunisation is in the advanced sages of trial, with volunteers in countries including Brazil, the UK and the US; in a statement, Oxford said it had investigated the claims that a volunteer had died but insisted there were "no concerns about safety" around the vaccine.
"All significant medical incidents, whether participants are in the control group or the Covid-19 vaccine group, are independently reviewed.
"Following careful assessment of this case in Brazil, there have been no concerns about safety of the clinical trial and the independent review in addition to the Brazilian regulator have recommended that the trial should continue.”
AstraZeneca, the company with whom Oxford is developing the vaccine, said it could no comment on individual cases due to patient confidentiality, but insisted all due processes had been followed and the trial should continue.
Brazilian media reports that the volunteer was in fact given a placebo jab in the trial, and his death was unrelated to the vaccine, according to Breaking News.ie.
Work on the vaccine is being led by Professor Adrian Hill, an Irish vaccinologist who previously developed treatments for Ebola and malaria.
