OXFORD, ENGLAND — The University of Oxford has initiated human trials for the first COVID-19 vaccine in Europe, according to the BBC.<br /><br />Citing the university, BBC reports on April 23 that the experimental COVID-19 vaccine takes the coronavirus's genetic material and inserts the substance into adenoviruses that are responsible for the common cold.<br /><br />The cold viruses are weakened so that they cannot grow inside the human body after injection." <br /><br />The modified viruses should make the human cells produce the same spike proteins that stud the surface of the coronaviruses and teach the immune system to recognize COVID-19.<br /><br />When vaccine recipients actually encounter the coronavirus, their bodies' immune system would then be able to identify the threat and scramble antibodies and killer T cells to fight off the infection.<br /><br />At the time of report, two volunteers have received the shot, out of around 800 recruited for the first phase human trial.<br /><br />Citing the doctors, the BBC reports potential side effects include headache, fever and muscle pains a couple of days after the injection.
