AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Restarts

MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Oxford University has announced that final-stage testing of a COVID-19 vaccine it is developing with drug maker AstraZeneca will restart following a pause last week after a serious side effect showed up in a volunteer.

“The independent review process has concluded and following the recommendations of both the independent safety review committee and the U.K. regulator Â… the trials will recommence in the U.K.,” the university said in a statement released on Saturday. No further details were given on the results of the review.

Media reports have said the person who had the suspected adverse reaction had been volunteering in a trial based in the United Kingdom. The volunteer was diagnosed with transverse myelitis. The university said in large trials, “it is expected that some participants will become unwell and every case must be carefully evaluated to ensure careful assessment of safety.” Globally, some 18,000 people have received the vaccine so far, the Associated Press reported.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is considered a front-runner among the dozens of COVID-19 vaccines in various stages of testing around the world, the AP reported.

AP News Article