“This vaccine aims to turn the virus’ most potent weapon, its spikes, against it – raising antibodies that stick to them allowing the immune system to lock on to and destroy the virus.” It is called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) from chimpanzees that has been genetically changed so it is impossible for it to grow in humans. The news came a day after Sir John Bell, a member of the government’s vaccine task force, told the Today programme: “It went into man, I think, on Thursday. It was the first test of testing it in a human being.” On Friday it emerged that coronavirus survivors were being asked to donate blood plasma in the hope that transfusions will eventually help those fighting the disease. The NHS Blood and Transplant Service (NHSBT) is appealing to those who are recovering from Covid-19 to give convalescent plasma which contains antibodies which stop the virus growing. The number of the helpful antibodies rises steadily in the blood stream of those who have been ill and is thought to peak between 21 and 28 days after recovery, according to the NHS. Dr Jennifer Armstrong, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) medical director, welcomed the move saying: “Our teams have been incredible in rising up to the challenge of Covid-19. “This means our patients are receiving the most up to date treatment available.” Charles Weller, general manager at NHS Research Scotland, said: “RECOVERY has been the fastest growing clinical trial in medical history – and a crucial part of our efforts to better understand and tackle Covid-19.
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