Volunteer in trial of Oxford University and Astrazeneca Covid vaccine dies of virus in Brazil after taking placebo
A VOLUNTEER in AstraZeneca's clinical trial of the Covid-19 vaccine in Brazil has died.
Dr João Pedro Feitosa died from complications from the coronavirus while taking part in the testing of the jab which is being co-developed by Oxford University.
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It is believed the doctor had not been given the vaccine, but was one of the guinea pigs given a benign placebo.
Brazilian health authority Anvisa said testing of the vaccine would continue after the man's death.
The victim has been named in local media as Dr Feitosa - a Brazilian national, aged 28, who lived in Rio de Janeiro.
An AstraZeneca spokesperson: "We cannot comment on individual cases in an ongoing trial of the Oxford vaccine as we adhere strictly to medical confidentiality and clinical trial regulations, but we can confirm that all required review processes have been followed.
"All significant medical events are carefully assessed by trial investigators, an independent safety monitoring committee and the regulatory authorities.
"These assessments have not led to any concerns about continuation of the ongoing study."
It's hoped the vaccine will by rolled out to millions in the UK by spring 2021 if the rest of the trials are successful and experts sign it off as safe.
Last week, the UK's deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said the NHS was preparing to launch the AstraZeneca vaccine shortly after Christmas.
Prof Van-Tam told MPs last week that stage three trials of the vaccine mean a mass rollout could come as early as December.
Another drug giant - Pfizer - is also creating Covid vaccines that could be available by the New Year.
A video of tiny vials of the medicine rolling off the production line has been shared.
And at the weekend, a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) predicted a Covid-19 vaccine will be ready in the spring.
Professor Jeremy Farrar said the UK was in for a "tough" Christmas this year but that a vaccine would be a "light at the end of the tunnel."
Speaking to Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday, he said: "Christmas will be tough this year. I don't think it's going to be the usual celebration it is and all families coming together, I'm afraid.
"I think we have to be honest and realistic and say that we are in for three to six months of a very, very difficult period.
"The temperatures drop, we are all indoors more often, we have the other infections that come this time of year.
"It's much better for us to be upfront and honest now, and say we are in for a really difficult time, but there is light at the end of the tunnel."
However, there have been some issues with the Oxford trials.
Last month, an Oxford vaccine volunteer told how he suffered fever and chills 14 hours after having the Covid remedy.
The unnamed volunteer said he woke up in the early hours freezing but with a temperature above 39C after having the jab.
"I felt incredibly weak and couldn't really get up and move so my partner had to get me a paracetamol," he said.
"The temperature continued for about a day, and I just felt really weak and lethargic and couldn't really do anything."
The volunteer's revelation came days after AstraZeneca paused trials studies of the vaccine after a UK participant was admitted to hospital with a suspected neurological disorder.
Researchers paused the crucial research to allow them to investigate exactly what happened to the trial participant.
However, the trial in the UK was resumed two days later.
So far, 18,000 people have received the AZD1222 vaccine as part of the trial, which is taking place in the US, South Africa, Brazil and the UK.
50,000 participants are expected to take part worldwide in phase three trials - usually the final stage before it can be approved for widespread rollout.
The vaccine is thought to be the world's best hope for stopping the respiratory disease which has killed more than one million people worldwide.
AstraZeneca shares turned negative and were down 1.7 per cent following the news of the fatality today.
Brazil already has plans to purchase the UK vaccine and produce it at its biomedical research center FioCruz in Rio de Janeiro while a competing jab from China's Sinovac is being tested in Sao Paulo.
The South American country has the second deadliest outbreak of coronavirus with more than 154,000 killed following only the United States.
It is the third worst outbreak in terms of cases, with more than 5.2 million infected, after the US and India.
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In the UK, the government this month changed the law to expand the number of health professionals able to administer the jab.
New regulations will enable pharmacists, dentists, midwives and paramedics to inoculate the public.
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The first vaccines would be given to the elderly and vulnerable and to vaccinate those most at risk will take several months.
Prof Van-Tam said: “Vaccines are being developed at a speed that, if successful, will save lives.”