Kenya Evaluates COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate

Kenya has joined the global efforts in search of an effective vaccine for COVID-19 with the start of a trial evaluating the ChAdOx1 nCoV-2019 Oxford coronavirus vaccine candidate, which is often called AZD1222. Following immunization, will be monitored over a period of 12 months to assess their health, any vaccine side-effects, and how their bodies develop immunity in response to the vaccine.

Professor Andy Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and Chief Investigator of the Oxford Vaccine Trial, said in a press release on October 30, 2020: ‘We’re excited to see our colleagues in Kenya today joining those around the world in helping us to evaluate the ChAdOx1 nCov-2019 Oxford coronavirus vaccine, as it is important to evaluate the vaccine in as many different populations as possible.’

Kenya joins a number of countries including the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil who are running trials to evaluate the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, with over 20,000 volunteers now taking part in trials across these countries.