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Oxford University and Astra-Zeneca are reporting 

 this week from a COVID-19 vaccine trial. It's enough to push the vaccine into a phase-three trial, and enough for cautious optimism from Dr. Anthony Fauci, who's recently 

 from the White House for being too negative. 

Two other vaccine candidates are also entering phase-three testing.

“This is a major step forward. It puts us a lot closer,” 

, a professor of medicine and member of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, told MPR News host Tom Crann. 

“A phase three trial is going to involve tens of thousands of people, and they are people who are actually exposed to the disease and at risk,” he said. “What we're doing is giving them the vaccine and then comparing them to an unvaccinated group to see if the vaccine works at preventing illness or making it a less severe disease if they get it.”

Kennedy joined Crann on All Things Considered to explain how vaccine development works. To hear more, click play on the audio player above.

Early Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine data 'encouraging'

About coronavirus vaccine science but were afraid to ask

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“It puts us a lot closer,” says a Mayo Clinic vaccine researcher. But many health experts remain cautious in their optimism that a vaccine will be ready by the end of the year.

COVID-19 vaccines enter phase-three trials — what it means

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