I'll have to stop
Tests of the British coronavirus vaccine put on pause
Vera Mukhina, N+1
Trials of the British vector vaccine against coronavirus, which is in the third stage of clinical trials, have been suspended. The cause was an unexplained illness of one of the volunteers: presumably, transverse myelitis. Now scientists are finding out whether the disease can be considered a side effect of vaccination or whether it is not related to the tests, according to the publication STAT.
The third phase of clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, started in the United States at the end of August; about 30 thousand people are planned to be vaccinated as part of these trials. This is a vector vaccine based on chimpanzee adenovirus; similar vaccines based on other adenoviruses are currently being developed in China and Russia in the NITSEM named after Gamalei.
The British have already reported on the results of the second phase of the study: no serious side effects have been found in the vaccine, and it induces an immune response quite effectively. In addition to the third phase trials, an interim vaccine testing (phase 2/3) has been taking place since May, which will allow understanding the impact of the vaccine on different age groups. It takes place in the UK, about ten thousand people take part in it.
On Tuesday, the vaccine trials were suspended: all planned vaccinations have been postponed indefinitely. The reason was the acute condition of one of the phase 2/3 volunteers. According to The New York Times, this is transverse myelitis – inflammation of the spinal cord, often associated with viral infections and autoimmune diseases. There is no more accurate information about the patient's health yet; it is also unknown whether his illness is related to tests or whether it is an independent process.
AstraZeneca commented that the suspension of testing is a common action in the event of a case of unexplained illness. Such events are not uncommon, and in studies with a large number of participants, such cases often occur simply by chance. However, until the nature of the malaise is established, further vaccination is postponed.
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