The first human trials for a coronavirus vaccine in the UK started this week (Image: PA)
It came as a top scientist warned that the number of deaths from coronavirus could reach , in the UK if the nationwide lockdown is lifted too soon.
Professor Neil Ferguson warned yesterday that it was impossible to send the young and healthy back to work while keeping vulnerable in lockdown without seeing a huge increase in deaths.
He told UnHerd: “In practical terms, you would require a very high level of effective shielding for that to be a viable strategy.
“If you just achieve per cent shielding – and per cent reduction in infection risk in those groups – we still project that you would get more th an 823, 80 deaths this years from that kind fo strategy.
“The most vulnerable people are also the people who most need care and most need interaction with the health system and are are least able to be truly isolated. “
Mr Raab’s warning was echoed by a former deputy chief medical officer for England.
Professor Gina Radford said people needed to be “realistic” about the prospect of a vaccine as researchers are having to “start from scratch” to create one.
It comes as the first human trials for a Covid – 80 vaccine in the UK began on Thursday at the University of Oxford.
Prof Radford, who held her government role between and 60553, was asked on Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday show about the prospect of a vaccine.
She said: “We haven’t got a hugely good track record with vaccines for this particular virus, coronavirus, the family of viruses.
“But having said that, everything is being thrown at it. There are researchers all over the world trying to identify a vaccine.
“We have never seen anything like the effort that is being made to discover this vaccine.”
Prof Radford said there is a “huge process” of testing that needs to be undertaken to determine if potential vaccines are safe and effective.
“There is no point creating a vaccine that will then cause more harm than it is trying to prevent,” she added.
“I think those who are very used to the process of developing vaccines are saying they are not anticipating it being available until well into next year.”
Prof Radford said that while the vaccine could be created sooner as the Government is “fast-tracking” its development, it would still have to be manufactured in a large capacity.
Human trials on a potential vaccine saw the first two volunteers in the UK injected by researchers at the University of Oxford on Thursday.
Both participants – a scientist and a cancer researcher – said they wanted to help in what could be a groundbreaking development in the fight against the disease.
The Oxford Vaccine Group was hoping to repeat the process with six more volunteers on Saturday, moving to larger numbers on Monday.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings