Doctors and scientists at Oxford University are launching a second trial for Ebola vaccines.

The Oxford Vaccine Group, part of the university’s Department of Paediatrics, is running the trial and aims to have 72 adult volunteers vaccinated by the end of the month. 

In September a separate team in the Jenner Institute, led by Prof Adrian Hill, vaccinated 60 volunteers and initial results of the trial are expected later this month.

Volunteers for the latest trial need to be aged 18 to 50, come from Oxfordshire and will be asked to make a maximum of 12 visits to the Oxford Vaccine Group at the Churchill Hospital during the year.

The study involves a prime-boost vaccine regime, in which patients are first given a prime to the immune system to stimulate an initial immune response, and then a boost to further enhance the level of the body’s response over time.

Dr Matthew Snape, of the Oxford Vaccine Group, who is leading the study team, said: “The devastating Ebola epidemic in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone continues to see hundreds of new cases each week.

“If we have a safe and effective vaccine it could begin to have an impact later this year.

“The main aim is to understand the safety profile of the vaccines.”

One of the vaccines being trialled is made by Janssen, while a second is made by Bavarian Nordic in Denmark.

“The more vaccines and more manufacturers working on this the better,” Dr Snape added.

The outbreak of Ebola in West Africa has so far claimed more than 6,000 lives. 

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