Queensland COVID-19 vaccine to provide ‘early data’

Participants of a promising University of Queensland COVID-19 vaccine have received their first dosage, with data expected to soon trickle in.

HUMAN trials of a promising University of Queensland COVID-19 vaccine have kicked off, with early data on the trial set to emerge by September.

About 120 volunteers will participate in the trial after more than 4,000 people put up their hands to take part.

UQ to start human trials of COVID-19 vaccine

University of Queensland Professor Paul Young said all participants would be monitored for a 12 month period after the first dosage.

“However, should safety be confirmed and early immune responses are promising, then our partner CSL will take the vaccine through further clinical trials from about some time in the beginning of quarter four this year,” he said.

A volunteer receives the vaccine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Supplied

Two immunisations will be given to each participant four weeks apart, with the trial beginning yesterday.

“We will be measuring the immune responses four weeks after each of those doses,” Professor Young said.

“So I’ll be seeing some early data … probably by the end of September.”

Innovation Minister Kate Jones said delivering a vaccine would be the “fastest and quickest way” to move on from the pandemic.

“To think that it is a Queensland university, Queensland people, Queensland brains that could crack the coronavirus pandemic,” she said.

“We are doing this in record time. We know that the best way to unite and recover as an economy is to crack the vaccine.”

Originally published as Queensland COVID-19 vaccine to provide ‘early data’