Oxford University to Test COVID-19 Vaccine Response among Children for First Time

World

February 13th, 10:39am

Asharq Al-Awsat

A healthcare worker prepares a dose of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at a vaccination center inside the Blackburn Cathedral, in Blackburn, Britain, January 19, 2021. (Reuters)

The University of Oxford has launched a study to assess the safety and immune response of the COVID-19 vaccine it has developed with AstraZeneca Plc in children for the first time, it said on Saturday. The new mid-stage trial will determine whether the vaccine is effective on people between the ages of 6 and 17, according to an emailed statement from the university. Around 300 volunteers will be enrolled and first inoculations are expected this month, Oxford said. The two-dose Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been hailed as a “vaccine for the world” because it is cheaper and easier to distribute than some rivals. AstraZeneca has a target to produce 3 billion doses this year and aims to produce over 200 million doses per month by April.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2802836/oxford-university-test-covid-19-vaccine-response-among-children-first-time