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UK scientists are hopeful that a coronavirus vaccine could be ready as soon as September.

Sarah Gilbert, a professor of vaccinology at Oxford University, says she is "80% confident" that a jab being developed by her team will be proved effective by the autumn.

The Times reports that human trials are set to begin on the vaccine in a fortnight, making it one of the most promising efforts in the world.

The UK government has also indicated that, if results look positive, it is prepared to fund millions of doses in advance.

This means that if the tests are successful, an immunisation against Covid-19 would be widely available to the public immediately.

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With medical experts fearing that lifting lockdown measures will lead to a fresh surge in infections, a return to normal life relies heavily on finding a vaccine that works.

Although it has been estimated this will take 18 months, Professor Gilbert has said that in a best-case scenario her team could have one ready by September.

She had previously said she hoped it could be developed by the end of the year.

(Image: Reuters)

"I think there's a high chance that it will work based on other things that we have done with this type of vaccine," she said.

"It's not just a hunch and as every week goes by we have more data to look at. I would go for 80 percent, that's my personal view."

However, she also warned that "nobody can promise it's going to work."

Prof Gilbert, who has been working seven days a week to put the vaccine through development stages, added that her researchers will need to trial it in a country with a high rate of transmission to get quick results.

(Image: Reuters)

Her team is one of dozens worldwide who have been racing to find a way to immunise people against the devastating flu-like virus.

Health experts believe that coronavirus mutates at a slower rate than other respiratory viruses, particularly flu.

This has led to hopes that once a jab is widely available it will provide protection against the highly contagious Covid-19 and any further strains which develop, for several years.

It comes as the number of daily coronavirus deaths in the UK passed the peaks in Spain and Italy for the first time.

Some 8,958 people died in the UK after testing positive for Covid-19 as of 5pm yesterday - a rise of 980 on the day before.

The daily rise of 980 outstrips the UK's previous biggest jump of 938.

And for the first time it means the UK has recorded more new deaths in one day than Italy and Spain did at their peak.

Italy recorded 971 new deaths on March 28 while Spain recorded 950 on April 3, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.