A question about the vaccine in Bristol

[Hugglespuffed]

I wonder if they are starting the vaccine here because they haven't been as badly hit. Some doctors and nurses here wonder if we have got away lightly or if we haven't hit our peak yet.

There is no vaccine

Yes. They are starting the vaccine trials here, tomorrow.

Sorry I assumed it was common knowledge as it has been all over the news and I've seen loads of threads about it!

Oxford I thought, not Bristol

It is in Oxford, Southampton, Bristol and Parts of N and S London.

covid19vaccinetrial.co.uk/volunteer

Probably just that the research departments are linked. Location probably irrelevant. My DSis was a research post doc and although based in Plymouth (marine biologist), her research projects were linked to various research institutes.

Presumably Bristol is because it's got a lab/research group with the right expertise and facilities?

We conduct commercial and non-commercial clinical trials to evaluate novel drugs and vaccines, from small early-phase safety studies through to larger efficacy trials.

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/translational-health-sciences/research/bcvc/

Interesting, and I stand corrected.

I'd have thought because it had the required research facilities as well.

It is very quiet in Bristol, as in lots of empty hospital beds.

Thanks for the replies. I knew it would also be to do with facilities but wondered if here first due to low numbers. But I didn't realise they were trialling in other areas too.

In the Bristol Post today there is an article but it just asks for participation really

Will they be testing volunteers to see if they have already had it? Otherwise how would they know if the vaccine works?

Will they be testing volunteers to see if they have already had it? Otherwise how would they know if the vaccine works?

I'd have thought so, but (I may be wrong) the first rung of testing is mostly a safety check.

They’ll be doing testing in Central London as well, so no, it’s not just about existing rates of infection, although they might have deliberately chosen to split testing between London and smaller less affected cities.

I work in clinical research, but not to do with this trial. It's likely to do with the existing research networks and capacity for clinical trial sites. It's a bit odd there is nothing in the north, but I suspect it probably has something to do with ease of transporting vaccine doses to study sites and who has the capacity to safely carry out the trial (as in there aren't other trials ongoing from the same site that might put people at risk if they were also recruiting for the vaccine trial there). Realistically, we tend to work with people we know and trust and who can get the job done, so that probably has a lot to do with it.

Thanks for all of the input :) I'm glad they've managed to start trials so soon. I can't quite believe it is happening tomorrow..
Obviously I know it is a long time away yet. But a step in the right direction.