Coronavirus: Oxford University vaccine trial paused as participant falls ill

Final clinical trials for the coronavirus vaccine, developed by Oxford University, were stopped as a participant had an adverse reaction in the UK.

According to details, coronavirus vaccines were developed byAstraZeneca and Oxford University in the UK. AstraZeneca called it a “routine” pause in the case of “an unexplained illness”.

Experts are closely watching the results of vaccine trials around the world.

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According to the international news agency BBC, all international trial sites have now been put on hold whereas an independent investigation reviews the safety data before regulators decide whether the trial can restart.

An Oxford University spokesperson said, “In large trials, illnesses will happen by chance but must be independently reviewed to check this carefully”.

This is the second time the Oxford coronavirus vaccine trial has been put on hold. BBC reported that such events often happen in major trials, and happen any time a participant is admitted to a hospital when the reason for the illness is not immediately apparent. 

A local health website Stat news said details of the participant’s reaction were not immediately known. But it was quoted as saying that they were likely to recover. 

There were hopes that the vaccine might be one of the first to come on the market, following phase 1 and 2 testings.

Its move to Phase 3 testing in recent weeks has involved some 30,000 participants in the US as well as in the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. Phase 3 trials in vaccines often involve thousands of participants and can last several years.