Oxford University, in collaboration with AstraZeneca, has created a groundbreaking vaccine shown to be effective against COVID-19 – demonstrating 70.4% efficacy when combining data from two different dosing regimens (efficacy was 90% in one regimen and 62% in the other). This new effective vaccine against COVID-19 is also easily distributed and administered. The production of the vaccine has relied on the decades of in-depth research and expertise that Oxford is renowned for.

Over 23,000 people – including Jesus College members – have been involved in the trial so far in the UK, Brazil and South Africa to ensure results are valid for different regions of the world and for different ethnic groups. Further trials are continuing in the United States, Kenya and Japan and we expect to have included more than 60,000 participants by the end of the year.

The Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine Group’s goal is to create a vaccine that helps as many people as possible around the world, available on a not-for-profit basis during the pandemic. AstraZeneca has agreements in place to supply three billion doses of the vaccine by the middle of next year. This offers real global potential for saving lives, including those of older adults who are most at risk from the virus.

A University spokesperson says, “We should all have enormous pride in the work of the core Oxford team of more than 280 staff at the heart of this success – including over 50 academic authors and 65 nurses – and the many other teams across the University who have provided the project with their essential support.”

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