Covid: Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to be tested on children – BBC News

A brand new trial is to check how nicely the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine works in kids.

Some 300 volunteers will participate, with the primary vaccinations within the trial happening later in February.

Researchers will assess whether or not the jab produces a robust immune response in kids aged between six and 17.

The vaccine is considered one of two getting used to guard towards critical sickness and demise from Covid within the UK, together with the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.

As many as 240 kids will obtain the vaccine – and the others a management meningitis jab – when the trial will get underneath approach.

Volunteers who dwell close to one of many 4 research websites – the College of Oxford, St George’s College Hospital, London, College Hospital Southampton and Bristol Royal Hospital for Youngsters – are being requested to enroll.

These concerned about collaborating should full a brief questionnaire.

Andrew Pollard, professor of paediatric an infection and immunity, and chief investigator on the Oxford vaccine trial, famous that almost all kids have been comparatively unaffected by Covid and have been unlikely to turn into unwell with the virus.

However he mentioned it was essential to ascertain the protection and immune response to the vaccine in kids and younger folks as some kids would possibly profit from vaccination.

There are at present no plans for kids to be vaccinated with the Oxford-Astrazeneca jab within the UK, because it has solely been authorised to forestall Covid in folks aged 18 or over.

The Pfizer-BioNTech jab is simply authorised in these aged over 16. The vaccine precedence checklist additionally excludes anybody underneath the age of 16, even the clinically extraordinarily susceptible.

Earlier this week England’s deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, advised ITV Information a number of trials have been underneath solution to develop vaccines that have been secure and efficient in kids, saying it was attainable there could be some licensed kids’s vaccines by the tip of the yr.

The College of Oxford mentioned its was the primary trial of a Covid vaccine within the six to 17 age group. It mentioned different trials had begun however solely measuring efficacy in these aged 16 and 17.

The Royal School of Paediatrics and Youngster Well being says there may be proof Covid-19 could cause demise and extreme sickness in kids however that is uncommon.

It mentioned: “In kids, the proof is now clear that Covid-19 is related to a significantly decrease burden of morbidity and mortality in comparison with that seen within the aged.

“There’s additionally some proof that kids could also be much less more likely to purchase the an infection. The position of kids in transmission, as soon as they’ve acquired the an infection, is unclear, though there is no such thing as a clear proof that they’re any extra infectious than adults.”

A 3rd vaccine, from Moderna, has been accredited to be used within the UK however provides usually are not anticipated to reach till spring.