"Stopping COVID Faster" British Youth Participates in World's First 'COVID-19 Human Trial'

Measurement of Minimum Infectious Dose of COVID-19 Virus
To Be Used as Data for Future Vaccine Development
Clinical Trial Planned with 90 UK Volunteers Aged 18-30

Alistair Fraser-Ackert, who participated in a COVID-19 human trial approved in the UK. / Photo by Independent website capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] As the world's first intentional human exposure experiment to COVID-19 was approved in the UK, one participant in the experiment has attracted attention by stating that they are participating "to stop the pandemic faster."

According to the British media outlet 'The Independent,' on the 18th (local time), Alistair Fraser-Aucott (18), who participated in the COVID-19 human exposure experiment, said, "Without such experiments, COVID-19 would last longer," adding, "I think the benefits (from the experiment) will be much greater."

Fraser-Aucott is one of the 90 participants approved by the UK government for the COVID-19 human exposure experiment. He is scheduled to be hospitalized at Royal Free Hospital located in London, the capital of the UK, to participate in the experiment.

Regarding the risk of COVID-19 infection, Fraser-Aucott admitted, "It is indeed risky because there is currently no treatment," but also said, "I think it is worth taking the risk."

He also emphasized, "We need information to cope with the pandemic."

However, he revealed, "My parents were not very happy about the news that I am participating in the experiment."

Having graduated from high school, Fraser-Aucott is scheduled to study biomedical sciences at University College London (UCL), a prestigious university in the UK, starting this September.

Meanwhile, the UK government approved the world's first experiment exposing humans to COVID-19 on the previous day (17th). The experiment will recruit 90 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 30 within this month to conduct the study.

This experiment aims to measure the minimum amount of virus that can cause COVID-19 infection and to secure data for developing more effective vaccines using this information.

Dr. Andrew Catchpole of the clinical company 'hiVivo,' participating in the research, explained the significance of the experiment, saying, "We need more information on how the virus operates," and "This experiment will provide us with that information."

All participants in the experiment will receive compensation of ?4,500 (approximately 6.9 million KRW) after the clinical trial.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.