Oxford Vaccine Group and Jenner Institute win NHS Parliamentary Award
08/07/2021
This article is more than two years old.
Congratulations to the Oxford Vaccine Group and Jenner Institute team who developed the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine - they won the Excellence in Healthcare Award at the annual NHS Parliamentary Awards yesterday (Wednesday 7 July 2021).
Layla Moran MP, who nominated the team, said: "The Oxford Vaccine Group and the Jenner Institute have saved the lives of millions of people across the UK and the world. I hope this award will be one of many ways that we continue to show our thanks for the work that they have done.
"Their work is in no small part the reason why we have been able to ease lockdown rules. The vaccine has undoubtedly saved countless lives and led the way out of the pandemic.
"It was a pleasure to be able to attend the NHS Parliamentary Awards. NHS staff have done a remarkable job throughout the pandemic so it was lovely to spend time congratulating and thanking everyone for their ongoing work."
Dr Bruno Holthof, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford University Hospitals, added: "I am delighted that the Oxford Vaccine Group and the Jenner Institute have won this prestigious award.
"Their work has given hope to people around the world and many colleagues at Oxford University Hospitals can be very proud of the role they played in the vaccine trial; together we have changed the course of this pandemic."
Speaking in a video at the event, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "On behalf of our whole country, I'd like to offer a huge thank you to every one of our NHS and social care workers. These awards are so important because they tell the story of that extraordinary service, 24 hours a day, every second of every hour.
"From pioneering the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, delivering the fastest and biggest immunisation programme in our history, to comforting worried relatives unable to visit their loved ones and delivering virtual remote care for many in our communities, these awards celebrate the innovation and compassion with which you met unique challenges of this moment."
Pictured: an ELISpot assay at the Jenner Institute (detail) © John Cairns, University of Oxford