THE first human trials for a potential covid-19 vaccine will start today, with side effects set to include "a fever, aches and pains".
Simeon Courtie, who is one of 500 human guinea pigs set to trial the possible coronavirus vaccine, said experts have warned participants they could get flu like side effects.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, the ex kids TV presenter said: "They think it will be somewhere along the lines of having flu.
'FLU LIKE SIDE EFFECTS'
"They don’t know, everybody’s different. You might just get very mild side effects but I think at worst, maybe a fever for a couple of days maybe some aches and pains – it shouldn’t be too disruptive to my life."
Simeon is one of 500 taking part in the trial, which begins at the Jenner Institute in Oxford today.
He is expected to get his first jab next Wednesday.
He said: "We are the safety part of this process to see if it’s safe and then after my trial there will be an efficacy trial out in the community to see whether it works. That will involve thousands of people."
Participants will undergo a series of jabs determined by the test group they are put in during the trial.
BLIND TRIAL
They will not know whether their group has been given the coronavirus vaccine or not.
Simeon explained: "It is a blind trial, you don’t know which group you are in. There’s no placebo group, where they just give you something that’s nothing.
"They either give you the new vaccine which they are developing or a vaccine which has already been licensed and being used.
"It’s the vaccine that teenagers get to protect them against meningitis and the side effects of that vaccine are very similar to the side effects of the new vaccine."
Professor Sarah Gilbert, who is leading the Oxford trials, says she is "80% confident" the vaccine her team is developing could be ready by September.
Scientists in Oxford have set a target of one million doses of the vaccine by September.
As well as the Jenner Institute in Oxford, Imperial College London, Bristol Children's Vaccine Centre and University Hospital Southampton have advertised for people to take part in trials as the world races to find a vaccine for the deadly virus.
And volunteers are being offered up to £625 to take part in the trials.
Healthy volunteers aged 18-55 are being sought for the trials, which are expected to last six months, with Imperial's trials set to begin in June.
Give now to The Sun's NHS appeal
BRITAIN’s four million NHS staff are on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.
But while they are helping save lives, who is there to help them?
The Sun has launched an appeal to raise £1MILLION for NHS workers.
The Who Cares Wins Appeal aims to get vital support to staff in their hour of need.
We have teamed up with NHS Charities Together in their urgent Covid-19 Appeal to ensure the money gets to exactly who needs it.
The Sun is donating £50,000 and we would like YOU to help us raise a million pounds, to help THEM.
No matter how little you can spare, please donate today here
www.thesun.co.uk/whocareswinsappeal
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS – STAY IN THE KNOW
Don't miss the latest news and figures – and essential advice for you and your family.
To receive The Sun's Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, sign up here.
To follow us on Facebook, simply 'Like' our Coronavirus page.
Get Britain's best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day – find out more.
Source: Read Full Article