24-09-2020, 10:14 AM
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Covid-19: UK volunteers could be given virus to test vaccine
Covid-19: UK volunteers could be given virus to test vaccinehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54275096
It is understood the studies - first reported by the Financial Times - would be conducted in London.
The UK government said it was holding discussions about developing a vaccine through such "human challenge studies".
No contracts have yet been signed, the BBC understands.
Alastair Fraser-Urquhart, an 18-year old university student, is planning on volunteering for the trial if it is given the green light to go ahead. He helps run the advocacy group, 1Day Sooner.
He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I think the challenge trial has the potential to save thousands of lives and really bring the world out of the pandemic sooner. It is just something that made instant sense to me."
Speaking on the same programme, Prof Peter Horby of Oxford University, said he thought the trial was a good idea that had the real potential to advance science and get a better understanding of the disease.
He said: "We now know the risk in a healthy young adult with no underlying conditions is extremely low.
"We suspected this before, but we really did not have the strength of evidence to go forward with challenging people with the virus - but now I think there is clear data.
"The second thing that has changed is there are now some treatments that have been shown to have a benefit, so in the likely event that a a challenged person does becomes unwell, there are drugs that can be given very early to help control the disease."
24-09-2020, 11:45 AM
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Re: Covid-19: UK volunteers could be given virus to test vaccine
Originally Posted by Cinderella
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Any mistakes could have unknown consequences. Very courageous to voluntarily be a 'guinea pig'.
24-09-2020, 11:52 AM
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Re: Covid-19: UK volunteers could be given virus to test vaccine
Having said that though, think about all the brave young lads that went to both world wars, knowing that it was likely to be a one way trip......We shouldn't mock them really, whatever their reasons, they are taking one for mankind!...
24-09-2020, 01:41 PM
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Re: Covid-19: UK volunteers could be given virus to test vaccine
Challenge trials are quite normal and many research scientist going back to Edward Jenner infected patients to test cures.Some members may remember The Common Cold Unit near Salisbury where people were infected with various strains of the common cold to see if a cure or vaccine could be found.
They used to pay the volunteers and I met someone people who went there for their summer holidays .
This challenge trial is no different other than the virus being more dangerous.
24-09-2020, 02:09 PM
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Re: Covid-19: UK volunteers could be given virus to test vaccine
Originally Posted by Meg
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Some members may remember The Common Cold Unit near Salisbury where people were infected with various strains of the common cold to see if a cure or vaccine could be found. They used to pay the volunteers and I met someone people who went there for their summer holidays .
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