Brazil to help test Oxford’s Covid-19 vaccine

Brazil to help test Oxford’s Covid-19 vaccine

Brazil will soon start testing an experimental vaccine against the novel coronavirus being developed by researchers at the University of Oxford, supported by AstraZeneca

The vaccine will be tested in Brazil on 2,000 volunteers, who will be recruited starting this week.

Soraya Smaili, Brazilian university’s president, said, “Volunteers must be health professionals between 18 and 55 years old and be at high risk of infection, for example, cleaning and support staff in units treating Covid-19 patients”

Andrew Pollard, chief investigator of the Oxford Vaccine Trial at Oxford, said: “We are delighted to be working with the talented team of investigators in Brazil on the Covid-19 vaccine trial, as researchers and scientists around the world collaborate on clinical development work with unprecedented urgency to combat the global threat to human health that is coronavirus.”

The Oxford University vaccine, supported by AstraZeneca, is among the first Covid-19 vaccines to move into Phase II, or mid-stage, trials, along with one from the U.S. biotech company Moderna Inc.

Oxford doctor shares coronavirus experience on Twitter

Oxford doctor shares coronavirus experience on Twitter

A doctor from Oxford has given insight into what it is like to have Covid-19, after he contracted the virus himself.

Chris Gough took to Twitter on March 16 to reveal that he was recovering from coronavirus, and to explain the symptoms of the disease.

More than 3.6 lakh people have ‘liked’ his initial tweet and tens of thousands have interacted with the thread.

Chris Gough, who is an anesthetist and works in intensive care, documented his own experience with a day-by-day breakdown.

In a series of tweets, he said, “Now that I am recovering from Covid-19, I want to share my symptoms, and my experience, in case it is of help to anyone else.

“I’ve felt pretty rotten the last few days, but I am finally improving. I am only talking about my own experiences – as a patient, not a doctor.”

Symptoms and the seriousness of Covid-19 vary from person to person, but a high fever and persistent cough are the main signs.

Mr. Gough said that day one started with fever, exhaustion, and loss of appetite, adding: “Shivers and sweats were the stories of the day. That and being utterly exhausted, with whole-body ache.”

He said he then developed a cough and headache and had to take daytime naps to cope with fatigue.

He is currently on day seven of recovery and said he was starting to feel better yesterday.

He said his brother, and his brother’s girlfriend, also presented with symptoms.

Mr. Gough also called for a better testing system to protect healthcare staff.

He tweeted: “We must stop the ridiculous imbalance where politicians and sports stars can apparently get tested, but frontline health workers cannot.”

Oxford Mail