The vaccine is designed to mimic the coronavirus and train the immune system to react if a person is later infected
- Sign up for Guardian Australia’s coronavirus email
- Download the free Guardian app to get the most important news notifications
The vaccine developed and tested by a team at Oxford University is one of the most promising of the many candidates being developed around the world to protect against Covid-19. Australia has now signed a letter of intent with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to supply Australians with the vaccine if it clears safety and effectiveness trials, with the prime minister now saying it won’t be compulsory but will be encouraged.
Here’s what you need to know about the vaccine.
Related: Covid vaccine tracker: when will we have a coronavirus vaccine?
Related: Global report: WHO warns against dangers of ‘vaccine nationalism’
A Phase II/III trial aims to enrol up to 10,560 adults and children across the UK.
A Phase III trial in the US is looking for 30,000 participants.
Brazil started a Phase III trial of the vaccine in June, which will enrol 5,000 volunteers.
A team in South Africa is looking to enrol 2,000 people to trial the vaccine.
Related: Will a vaccine or recovery from the virus give us long-term immunity to Covid-19?
