UK scientists developing Ebola vaccine that could be ready for trials in months

The vaccine does not cause an infection or Ebola symptoms, but trains the immune system to give protection.The WHO said earlier this week that there was no animal data yet to support the effectiveness of this particular vaccine."It is possible that doses of that could be available for clinical trial in two to three months, but there is a lot of uncertainty," a spokesman added, saying it would depend on animal trials as to whether it could be considered "a promising candidate research vaccine" for Bundibugyo.The BBC understands that animal testing is now under way in Oxford. The India" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="89520" data-entity-type="organization">Serum Institute of India is lined up to mass produce the Ebola vaccine once Oxford can supply medical-grade material. Prof Lambe, the Calleva Head of Vaccine Immunology at the Oxford-vaccine-group" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="46980" data-entity-type="organization">Oxford Vaccine Group, told BBC News: "Once we get starting material to them they can go fast and they can go big." The WHO says the vaccine could be available for use in clinical trials in two to three months. Lambe says speed is a priority: "People are worried about this outbreak, generally, you prepare for the worst case scenario - hopefully contact tracing and quarantine is all that's needed, but we can't take our foot off the gas."