Pride as former Kettering schoolgirl's Covid vaccine is highly effective

An amazing achievement by our Sarah!
Professor Sarah Gilbert.Professor Sarah Gilbert.
Professor Sarah Gilbert.

"The whole town should be bursting with pride - I know I am."

That's the view of Kettering's mayor Cllr James Burton after a Covid-19 vaccine developed Professor Sarah Gilbert, who grew up in the town, was shown to be highly effective after mass trials.

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Data has shown that the vaccine, which Prof Gilbert has been the architect of at Oxford University, is 70.4 per cent effective. Researchers say it may be up to 90 per cent effective if the dose is tweaked.

The government has pre-ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine - and if it is approved by safety regulators Kettering will have played a huge part in saving lives and bringing life back to normal.

Cllr Burton added: "For Kettering to produce someone who is going to help the world cope with this terrible virus is fantastic and we are all in awe of her.

"Let's hope that as soon as possible that the whole world is vaccinated."

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In 1973 she started at Kettering High School for Girls and was quiet, hard-working and extremely intelligent.

She passed nine O-Levels, including an incredible six As. Fellow pupils knew she would succeed and she went on to study biological sciences at the University of East Anglia. She is now professor of vaccinology at Oxford University.

She was part of a musical family and she played the oboe in the school’s orchestra.

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Michele Stock, nee King, was in the orchestra with her and played the flute.

After hearing about the vaccine trial results, Michele said: "We are exceptionally proud of her. It's fantastic for her and her team who have all worked tremendously.

"She was absolutely dedicated at school and always worked so hard. She was very, very dedicated to her work.

"We are so proud and pleased that she may help save the world eventually. It's fantastic for us locally as well and it's a magnificent triumph. We wish her and her team well."

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Results have shown the Oxford vaccine, which will be produced by AstraZeneca, is less effective than Pfizer and Moderna vaccines which showed 95 per cent protection.

But scientists say the Oxford results are far from disappointing.

Unlike the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which have to be stored at extremely cold temperatures, the Oxford vaccine can be stored at fridge temperature meaning it will be easier to distribute around the world.

And reports say it is expected to cost about £3 - far less than the Pfizer vaccine (about £15) or Moderna vaccine (about £25).

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Reports have also said that nobody who took part in the trial who was given the vaccine developed severe Covid or required treatment in hospital.

So far more than 55,000 people have died in the UK after testing positive for the virus.

Prof Gilbert said: "The announcement today takes us another step closer to the time when we can use vaccines to bring an end to the devastation caused by SARS-CoV-2.

"We will continue to work to provide the detailed information to regulators.

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"It has been a privilege to be part of this multi-national effort which will reap benefits for the whole world."

Health secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Breakfast the nation would be "something closer to normal" by the summer of next year.

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