Australians Will Be Paid $2,300 To Participate In Coronavirus Vaccine Trial

Australians needing a bit of extra cash in their bank account could get some fast money - if they're willing to be a part of a medical trial.

The University of Queensland, which is currently researching and testing a coronavirus vaccine, is looking for around 120 Aussies between the ages of 18 to 55 to be a part of their research.

All you have to do is take the team's experimental vaccine and have a couple of tests done to see whether it's effective.

Project co-lead Professor Paul Young said they've had some really promising results already and they hope a new batch of participants will bring them closer to finding a weapon to battle the coronavirus.

PA

"We're still underway with phase one and what we're seen with the early stages is it is a safe and well-tolerated vaccine," he told Sunrise.

"We've tested it at different doses - a low, medium and high - and even at high doses it's been well-tolerated.

"So with that information we've decided to extend the trial to include older individuals."

In addition to the 120 participants, they're also wanting to recruit 48 people between the ages of 56-65, and another 48 people aged 66 and older.

The UQ scientists are using a different method to achieve a cure for the coronavirus to the one developed by Oxford University and secured by UK pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.

PA

The Australian government has sent a Letter of Intent to AstraZeneca to secure tens of millions of vials of the vaccine if the tests are successful.

The candidate vaccine brewed in Queensland is considered the front runner in Australia.

Keith Chappell from the UQ School of Chemistry said: "Following a single dose, we see a really good level of protection against virus in the lung."

He admitted that it's just 'one step' in the very long process to getting the vaccine ready. It has already been tested on humans as early as July and larger trials will be needed in the coming months to ensure it's safe.

There have been 120 participants in human trials so far and Dr Chappell said there have been 'absolutely no safety concerns with all the participants dosed so far'.

The team at the University of Queensland presented their latest findings to the International Society of Vaccines in the hope it will help other teams around the world better understand how to develop and further their vaccine research.

Topics: News, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie