Volunteers offered £3,500 to be infected with coronavirus

Scientists around the world are in race to find vaccine against COVID-19. Photo: AFP

The trial, led by Hvivo (the UK), will recruit 24 people to be infected with two different strains of coronavirus that are similar to the Covid-19 virus currently plaguing numerous countries around the world.

Hvivo, which is among 20 firms and organisations racing to find a vaccine for Covid-19, frequently runs similar trials under the programme FluCamp to find vaccines for flus and common colds.

During the trials, volunteers will be compensated a minimum of £100 per day, according to the FluCamp website.

After being infected with the less aggressive strains of the virus, volunteers will receive an Hvivo vaccine while they are quarantined and monitored, according to the European Pharmaceutical Manufacturer (EPM).

The two strains that are to be administered, OC43 and 229E, have been widespread in the community for a number of years and cause only a mild respiratory illness, according to the report.

This type of trial is known as a ’Controlled Human Infection Model’ and will see Hvivo’s 24-bedroom clinic at the Queen Mary Innovation Centre in Whitechapel, east London, filled with volunteers.

The study will aim to generate data that helps inform an effective selection of best candidates and products that should be fast-tracked for field testing against Covid-19, said EPM.

It could help advance the process of creating a vaccine and will use more common coronavirus strains rather than the aggressive Covid-19 form.