Tens of millions of Covid vaccines will be ready by Christmas, professor reveals
TENS of millions of British-made Covid-19 vaccines are ready to roll into production by the end of the year, it has been revealed.
Professor Andrew Pollard, who led the Oxford University and AstraZeneca-backed trial, said they are on track and “optimistic” to get the green light on the jab by Christmas.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
He said his team’s work was a “miracle” done at “record speed”.
And their anti-viral will be easier to deliver and ten times cheaper than the Pfizer version, which needs two injections weeks apart and must be stored below -109F (-78C).
Professor Pollard says: “Ours are stored at fridge temperature.”
He said the pioneering vaccine is on the cusp of demonstrating “efficacy” — an important medical test to prove a drug’s success, which German drug-firm Pfizer proved on its own vaccine just last Monday.
Pfizer and BioNTech were last week the first to announce their vaccine had been 90 per cent successful.
Hundreds of vaccines are being trialled around the world.
Prof Pollard — director of the pioneering Oxford Vaccine Group — said: “We’re optimistic we’ll be able to demonstrate efficacy by the end of the year.
"We have been working tirelessly all year and can’t wait to see the results in the months ahead.
“We are a small academic team in Oxford. It is a miracle that we have been able to conduct large scale trials in record speed.
“Our partner AZ will deliver the vaccine on a not-for-profit basis.”
Most read in News
The Government agreed in May to take 100million of the Oxford University vaccines, which scientists hope will be rolled out in full next year.
They are believed to cost £2.23 per dose, while the Pfizer version — which the Government has ordered 40million doses of — is thought to cost £29.47 for both jabs.
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]