The same Oxford team behind a successful coronavirus vaccine candidate are on the verge of entering the final stage of human trials in their jab against malaria.
In an interview with The Times, The Jenner Institute director Adrian Hill said the malaria vaccine will be tested on 4,800 children in Africa next year after early trials yielded promising results.
Professor Hill told the paper he hoped the jab could eventually combat the almost half a million annual deaths from the disease.
ALSO READ: Covid cases up by 92 in Oxfordshire while one new death recorded
He said: “Malaria is a public health emergency.
“A lot more people will die in Africa this year from malaria than will die from Covid. I don’t mean twice as many – probably 10 times.
“(The vaccine) is going to be available in very large amounts, it works pretty well. And it’s going to be very low priced.”
Professor Hill added the vaccine could be in use by 2024, should the final human trials be successful.
The Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine is currently awaiting regulatory approval for use in the UK.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here