Brazilian COVID-19 Vaccine Volunteer Died – of COVID-19
A Brazilian participating in a phase 3 trial for a COVID-19 vaccine contracted the disease and died from its complications, according to the country’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). The vaccine in this trial was developed by AstraZeneca in conjunction with the University of Oxford.
Although some news outlets are reporting that it’s not known if the volunteer received the vaccine or a placebo, Bloomberg cites sources familiar with the matter as saying the volunteer did not receive the vaccine.
BBC.com reports the volunteer was a 28-year-old doctor who worked with patients infected with the virus, but this has not been confirmed.
In a statement, Oxford University said: "All significant medical incidents, whether participants are in the control group or the Covid-19 vaccine group, are independently reviewed.
"The independent review, in addition to the Brazilian regulator, have both recommended that the trial should continue."
Related story: AstraZeneca Pauses COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Due to Volunteer's Illness
Related story: AstraZeneca Resumes UK Arm of COVID Vaccine Trial
The Oxford Vaccine
The Oxford vaccine, as it is called, is being tested in several countries. It was put on pause in September due a U.K. volunteer’s illness. It was resumed within a few days in all participating countries, except the United States, which still has not granted approval for the study to continue.
Brazil has the second highest number of deaths from COVID-19. According to the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 tracker, there have been 155,403 deaths as of October 22. The only country with a higher count is the U.S., which had 222,220. Total count of deaths around the word so far is 1,132,732. That is more than the number of people who life in San Jose, California.
There are four separate vaccine phase 3 trials, including the Oxford vaccine, currently in progress in Brazil.