SEVERAL bishops have questioned the morality of Oxford University's coronavirus vaccine.

The Australian church leaders criticised the fact that the serum is being tested on cells which are descended from stem cells taken from an aborted human foetus.

Specifically, it is medical giant AstraZeneca that is using this technique, after winning a contract to develop the Oxford vaccine if it is deemed to be successful.

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Catholic archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher said that Catholics would be presented with an 'ethical dilemma' if asked to take the vaccine.

His concerns were echoed by other church leaders.

The UK's deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth tried to dampen the debate, saying: "The reality for the vaccines is that they need cell cultures in order for us to grow them.

"The human cell is a really important part of their development."

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The Oxford project is awaiting results of phase three trials of its vaccine and, if a high level of efficacy is proven, the team hopes it could be available be the end of the year.

Oxford’s pharmaceutical partner in the project, AstraZeneca, has committed to producing two billion doses by next summer.

The vaccine is being trialled in tens of thousands of volunteers in the UK, South Africa, Brazil and the US.