Little chance of proving Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness in UK, says trial leader

A researcher leading the clinical trial of the Oxford Covid-19 vaccines says transmission rates are so low, that efficacy has to be proven elsewhere.

Low transmission rates in the UK mean there is “little chance” of trials in the country proving the effectiveness of a coronavirus vaccine, a scientist leading a UK trial has said.

Professor Sarah Gilbert, who is leading the University of Oxford vaccine trial, said that when Covid-19 transmission was high, lockdown was imposed to bring the rate down.