Oxford Coronavirus Vaccine - An Overview

 by Hamish Orr

Global Vaccine Efforts

The Covid 19 pandemic has led to huge global efforts to develop treatments and vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 (Covid 19). With more than 150 vaccines being developed around the world from Russia to Madagascar the hopes are high that a vaccine can be brought to market in record times with the World Health Organisation aiming to bring a huge 2 billion does to market by December 2021. 

Within the UK Oxford University, in Collaboration with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, are developing a vaccine for Covid-19 called ‘AZD1222’ with hopes that it could be available by early 2021 for mass distribution. The Vaccine is currently undergoing stage 3 clinical trials.

How does the Oxford University Vaccine Work? 

The vaccine being developed is made from a virus called ‘ChAdOx1’ which is essentially a weakened version of the common cold virus in chimpanzees (an adenovirus). This Adenovirus has been genetically modified so that it cannot reproduce in humans. Furthermore, Genetic material coding for the Covid 19 spike glycoprotein, found on the surface of the coronavirus has been added to the adenovirus vector so that the body can identify the glycoprotein when the coronavirus enters the body.

In the human body, the coronavirus uses this glycoprotein to bind to the receptor enzyme Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE 2 receptor) found in the cells of many organs, most noticeably the lungs. The coronavirus uses this receptor to gain entry to the body’s cells where the coronavirus can reproduce and cause symptoms in the body.

By Vaccinating with the edited adenovirus researchers at Oxford University are hoping to make the body recognise the COVID 19 surface glycoprotein and develop a strong immune response to the glycoprotein found on the surface of the coronavirus so when the actual virus enters the body it can be fought off quickly. This has shown to be successful in the vaccine trials. 

The aim is for the body to be able to identify the virus by the surface glycoproteins so that the immune system can attack the virus before it enters human cells and therefore prevent infection.

How far is the Oxford Coronavirus Vaccine? 

The vaccine being developed at Oxford University has been in the process of testing the vaccine in stage 3 trials since April 2020. After a brief pause in trials when a side effect was reported, trials are continuing across vaccine test sites around the U.K. 

The main purpose of clinical trials are for scientists and researchers to identify any side effects that could be dangerous and rule out the possibility that the vaccine is harmful to humans in any way. Currently there are hopes that a virus, potentially the Oxford university developed vaccine, will become available early next year. 

A mass roll out of the coronavirus vaccine could be completed in as little as three months, with the hope that every adult in the UK could have a jab as early as Easter, although this is an optimistic target. 

A mass roll out like this will most probably take place by vaccinating those most at risk first; care home residents and frontline staff. Younger, healthier individuals will be made to wait longer. 

There is a glimmer of hope that life will be able to return to normal by Easter 2021 but it is most likely going to be after that.