Family from Oxfordshire among the first to receive prototype coronavirus vaccine in trial

A family from Oxford are among the first to take part in human trials of a possible vaccine for coronavirus.

Tony and Katie Viney, along with their daughter Rhiannon, are among 1100 participants in the study at Oxford University.

It's hoped the trial will lead to a viable vaccine that could be pushed into mass production.

  • WATCH: Sally Simmonds reports on the Viney family

The family, who received their jabs last week, say that staff were clear about the risks involved in a trial like this.

Rhiannon said: "I guess they have to be honest and say like there could be life changing consequences and people have died from vaccines in the past.

"But I think the most worrying thing with this vaccine was maybe a swelling on your arm and maybe a fever."

Her mother Katie said: "I'd been at work all day with the little children I work with in school and that was the reason I thought 'They desperately want to get back to normality' so if this is going to be the start of that, you know I wasn't worried at all."

Tony said: "There's got to be a way out and we're under the impression that without a vaccine there is no way out, all we can do is manage the scenario so with a bit of luck we'll be playing our part."

  • How does the trial work?

The participants will each be given an injection and asked to monitor their symptoms, such as swelling or a temperature, over the next week in a diary.

Half of these jabs will contain the prototype vaccine, using a weakened cold virus and protein elements of the coronavirus itself, while the other half will contain a placebo.

After the first week, they participants then have to keep their own check on their health for the next three, before reporting back to the university for blood tests.

These tests will allow scientists to identify whether the prototype has produced the immune response required to keep Covid19 at bay.

Coronavirus: Everything you need to know