Oxford offers best hope for Covid-19 vaccine this year, MPs told

University is leading rivals but first drugs may not work fully, says vaccine taskforce chair

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Oxford University is leading the world in developing a vaccine against Covid-19 and offers the best chance of having something protective against the virus as we go into winter, MPs have been told.

Kate Bingham, chair of the UK vaccine taskforce, said she expected to have a vaccine early next year" from one or more of the candidates, although it was possible the first vaccines might only help alleviate the symptoms" so that people have a less serious bout of disease, rather than fully protecting them.