Oxford University – AstraZeneca vaccine trial halted over unexplained illness of a participant

Phase three and the final trial of the Oxford University – AstraZeneca vaccine currently ongoing in the United Kingdom (UK) has been halted after a participant had an adverse reaction to the vaccine.

The news of the halt in the vaccine tipped by many to be a major contender among dozens being manufactured around the globe brings to two, the number of times the vaccine trial had been halted, BBC report.

Manufacturers have described the reaction as an “unexplained illness” and are keeping a close eye on the development which has halted the successful phase 1 and 2 vaccines.

Phase three trials

Developed by AstraZeneca PLC, a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical company and Oxford University, the vaccine began its large testing last month with some 30,000 participants in the US, UK, Brazil, and South Africa.

Speaking to the BBC, the spokesperson for Oxford University said “In large trials, illnesses will happen by chance but must be independently reviewed to check this carefully”.

AstraZeneca described the halt in the high hopes vaccine as a “routine” pause in the case of “an unexplained illness”.

Investigations Underway

According to the report, the two institutions have put on hold all its international trial sites for independent investigations to be conducted to review the safety data before any further decision to continue with the clinical process.

They were, however, hopeful that the process would be resumed soon and possibly in a matter of days.

Source: BBC