A Radlett United Synagogue member who volunteered to be part of the Oxford University and AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine trial says she wants promote the vaccine's safety to both raise awareness and encourage uptake.

Dr Juliette Harris, a specialist genetic counsellor at Northwick Park Hospital, told the JC she “didn’t hesitate for a second” when the opportunity arose to join the trial in June, having been “brought up to be communally-minded.

“The more people who get vaccinated, the more effective it will be and the more people will be protected. Of course, the anti-vaxxers are in the background but hopefully that’s a minority of people.”

On Monday, scientists revealed that the Oxford vaccine had an overall efficacy of 70 per cent – but potentially around 90 per cent when administered as a half dose followed by a full dose a month later.

The 48-year-old will not find out until the trial has ended whether she was given a placebo or the real thing but was nonetheless “very thrilled” to have been part of the process.

She hoped she had received the vaccine as it would give her greater authority to speak out about its safety.

Having worked at Northwick Park throughout the pandemic, the mother-of-three said she had found it “daunting” at times, even though she was not on the front line. 

Although her family had been anxious about her continuing to go into the hospital at the height of the pandemic, Dr Harris said they had not worried about her participating in the vaccine trial as they knew she had the scientific knowledge to make an informed decision.

Dr Harris also volunteers for Jnetics, which works to prevent genetic disorders within UK Jewry.