9/13/2020 Coronavirus: Oxford University to resume vaccine trial after pause - BBC News

Home News Sport Reel Worklife Travel Future M

Coronavirus: Oxford University to resume vaccine trial after

pause

12 September 2020

REUTERS

Trials of a Covid-19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University

will resume after it was paused due to a reported side effect in a patient in the UK.

On Tuesday, AstraZeneca said the studies were being paused while it investigated whether
the reported side effect was connected with the vaccine.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54132066 1/7
9/13/2020 Coronavirus: Oxford University to resume vaccine trial after pause - BBC News

But on Saturday, Oxford University said it had been deemed safe to continue.

The vaccine is seen as a strong contender among dozens being developed.

Oxford University said in a statement that it was "expected" that "some participants will
become unwell" in large trials such as this one.

The government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, echoed this view, telling a
Downing Street press conference on Wednesday what had happened in the Oxford trial was
not unusual.

The university added that the studies could now resume following the recommendations of an
independent safety review committee and the UK regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare
Products Regulatory Agency.

Writing on Twitter, Health Secretary Matt Hancock welcomed the news of the trials
restarting, adding: "We will back our scientists to deliver an effective vaccine as soon as
safely possible".

ADVERTISEMENT

Ads by Teads

UK 'must avoid party weekend' ahead of new rules

Oxford vaccine trial paused as participant falls ill

Oxford coronavirus vaccine triggers immune response

Oxford University said it would not disclose information about the patient's illness due to
confidentiality reasons, but the New York Times reported that a volunteer in the UK trial
had been diagnosed with transverse myelitis, an inflammatory syndrome that affects the
spinal cord and can be caused by viral infections.

Hopes have been high that the vaccine might be one of the first to come on the market,
following successful phase 1 and 2 testing.

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
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54132066 2/7
9/13/2020 Coronavirus: Oxford University to resume vaccine trial after pause - BBC News

thousands of participants and can last several years.

Risk of 'losing control'

The World Health Organization (WHO) says nearly 180 vaccine candidates are being tested
around the world but none has yet completed clinical trials.

The news comes after Prof Sir Mark Walport, a member of the government's scientific
advisory group Sage, warned the UK was "on the edge of losing control of the virus".

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "You've only got to look across the Channel to see
what is happening in France and what's happening in Spain."

Official figures released on Saturday showed a further 3,497 people have tested positive with
the virus in the UK.

Official figures indicate the UK's coronavirus epidemic is growing again, after the R
number - the reproduction rate of the virus - was raised to between 1 and 1.2 for the first time
since March.

Meanwhile, daily coronavirus cases in Scotland have reached a four-month high,

according to the Scottish government's latest data.

A total of 221 people tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours - the highest daily figure
since 8 May, when there were 225 positive tests.

It comes as new "rule of six" restrictions come into force on Monday, banning indoor and
outdoor gatherings of more than six people in England, except in certain circumstances such
as for work or school. Those breaking the rules could be fined.

In Scotland, socialising will be limited to a maximum of six people inside and outside - but
unlike England they must be from two households, and children under 12 are exempt.

In Wales, also from Monday, it will be illegal for more than six people from an extended
household to meet indoors - but up to 30 can still meet outdoors.

Localised restrictions for parts of Northern Ireland, including Belfast and Ballymena, are
to come into force on Monday, aimed at reducing contacts between people in homes in the
affected areas.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove agreed fines might be necessary to ensure people self-
isolate when required.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I don't want to see fines being levied, but even
more I do not want to see people behaving in a way that puts the most vulnerable at risk."

Related Topics

AstraZeneca Coronavirus testing Vaccination University of Oxford

Share this story About sharing

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54132066 3/7
9/13/2020 Coronavirus: Oxford University to resume vaccine trial after pause - BBC News

More on this story

Coronavirus: Avoid 'party weekend' ahead of new restrictions, public told

12 September 2020

Coronavirus: Who would get the vaccine first?

11 September 2020

Coronavirus: What are social distancing and self-isolation rules?

11 September 2020

Top Stories
Oxford University to resume Covid-19 vaccine trial
The late-stage trials were paused due to a reported side effect in a patient in the UK.
12 September 2020

Migrants tear gassed in Greek camp protest

12 September 2020

Afghan-Taliban talks a rare 'opportunity for peace'

12 September 2020

ADVERTISEMENT

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54132066 4/7
9/13/2020 Coronavirus: Oxford University to resume vaccine trial after pause - BBC News

Why you can trust BBC News

BBC News Services

On your mobile

On smart speakers

Get news alerts

Contact BBC News

Explore the BBC

Home News

Sport Reel

Worklife Travel

Future Culture

Music TV

Weather Sounds

Terms of Use About the BBC

Privacy Policy Cookies

Accessibility Help Parental Guidance

Contact the BBC Get Personalised Newsletters

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54132066 6/7
9/13/2020 Coronavirus: Oxford University to resume vaccine trial after pause - BBC News

Advertise with us AdChoices / Do Not Sell My Info

Copyright © 2020 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our
approach to external linking.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54132066 7/7
9/13/2020 Coronavirus: Oxford University to resume vaccine trial after pause - BBC News

Features
I read all those Trump tell-alls. Here's what I learned

Back to school: The new normal

'Europe does not exist. This is hell'

Nigeria's opportunity for return of Benin Bronzes

How India and China bought peace - for now

Who will get coronavirus vaccine first, and how?

Covid hotspots, six months after pandemic declared

Will this be the first European city to ban cars?

Remembering Mandela's gentle but fierce lawyer

Elsewhere on the BBC

Lyrics quiz
Have you been getting these songs wrong?

Feeling hot
What happens to your body in extreme heat?

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54132066 5/7