Veteran Kibworth councillor takes part in groundbreaking trial to help produce coronavirus vaccine

Cllr Kevin Feltham, 71, is hoping that the Oxford University and Oxford Vaccine Group vaccination will prove the critical breakthrough that helps to beat the devastating Covid-19 virus.

“I volunteered a good few months ago and had the jab in August.

“I received the booster last month and we are all obviously hoping that this vaccine is the one we’ve all been counting on,” said human guinea pig Kevin, who represents Gartree ward on Leicestershire County Council.

“There are 20 of us in the over-70s group undergoing this pioneering trial.

“I’ve had to go to Nottingham University to get the jabs.

“As far as I’m concerned it’s so far so good.

“I’ve tested myself eight times for the coronavirus – and every test has proved to be negative.

“I’ve had no side effects what so ever and I feel fine.

“I’m just one of over 55,000 people being tested with this new vaccine all over the world, including Brazil and South Africa.

“I was keen to do my bit to help conquer this terrible virus which has caused such havoc across the country,” said Kevin, who also sits on Kibworth Harcourt and Kibworth Beauchamp parish councils.

“Half of us have been injected with the vaccine and the other half with a placebo, which is actually a vaccine against menengitis.

“It’s a double blind and I don’t know which I’ve received.

“But I’m very happy to pitch in and give my time and effort so that we can try to invent and create the Covid-19 vaccine that the whole world is crying out for.”