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Updated 3 hours ago
A COVID-19 VACCINE developed in the UK can prevent 70.4% of people from contracting the virus, according to new data.
AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford announced that their jab is effective in preventing many people from getting sick and has been shown to work in different age groups, including the elderly.
One of the dosing patterns used by the scientists suggested 90% effectiveness if half the dose is administered followed by an additional full dose.
Another dosing pattern showed 62% efficacy when a full dose was administered followed by another full dose.
Combined analysis of both dosage regimens resulted in a mean efficacy of 70.4%.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Breakfast that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) would now evaluate whether the dosing regimen could be used with 90% effectiveness.
He said: “I am really very pleased, I really welcome these figures, this data that shows that the vaccine in the correct dose can be up to 90% effective.
“Of course, it is vital that the independent regulator, the MHRA, has to examine the data, it will need to check to make sure it is effective and safe, of course.
“But we have orders for 100 million doses and if all goes well, most of the launch will be in the new year.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “Incredibly exciting news that the Oxford vaccine has proven so effective in trials.
There are still more security checks ahead, but these are fantastic results.
Professor Andrew Pollard, chief investigator of the Oxford Vaccine Trial at Oxford, said: “These findings show that we have an effective vaccine that will save many lives.
“Excitingly, we’ve found that one of our dosing regimens can be around 90% effective, and if this dosing regimen is used, more people could be vaccinated with the planned vaccine supply.”
Speaking on BBC Radio 4 Today about the 90% finding, he added: “There is only a hint in the data at this time that those who got that regimen with more protection, there is a suggestion that it was also able to reduce asymptomatic infection symptoms.
“If that’s correct, we could stop the virus in its tracks and stop human-to-human transmission.”
Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, said the news is an “important milestone” in the fight against the pandemic.
He added: “The efficacy and safety of this vaccine confirm that it will be very effective against Covid-19 and will have an immediate impact on this public health emergency.
“In addition, the vaccine’s simple supply chain and our non-profit commitment and commitment to broad, equitable and timely access means that it will be affordable and available globally, supplying hundreds of millions of doses with approval.”
Sarah Gilbert, a professor of vaccination at Oxford University, said the announcement brought everyone closer to a time when vaccines can be used to “end the devastation” caused by Covid-19.
“We will continue working to provide the detailed information to regulators,” he said.
“It has been a privilege to be part of this multinational effort that will reap benefits for everyone.”
Dose
Results from the Oxford and AstraZeneca trial showed that the arm where half the dose was administered followed by a full dose at least one month apart involved 2,741 people. This was the 90% finding.
The other dosing regimen involving 8,895 people showed 62% efficacy when given in two full doses at least a month apart.
Peter Horby, Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Global Health at Oxford University, tweeted: “Oxford jab is much cheaper and easier to store and reach all corners of the world than the other two.”
He said the vaccine could be stored in a refrigerator instead of the minus 70 ° C to minus 80 ° C required for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
He added: “This is very welcome news, we can now clearly see the end of the tunnel.
“There were no Covid hospitalizations or deaths in people who received the Oxford vaccine.
“Although no serious reactions were reported in people who received the Oxford vaccine, we need to await full safety data and carefully monitor the safety of all vaccines when they are implemented.
“The reported efficiency of 70% is an interim measure and as more data accumulates, we will have a better idea of the protection it offers.
“Importantly, from what we’ve heard, the vaccine appears to prevent infection, not just disease.
“This is important because the vaccine could reduce the spread of the virus and protect the vulnerable from serious diseases.”
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Professor Azra Ghani, Chair of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Imperial College London, said: “Once again, we are waking up on a Monday morning to some good news about a Covid-19 vaccine.
“The results of this Oxford / AZ vaccine trial are very encouraging and demonstrate significant efficacy.
One particular strength of this vaccine is that it can be stored in a refrigerator; this means that it can be distributed worldwide using existing delivery mechanisms.
Therefore, this could have a truly significant impact around the world and allow the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Of course, much will be said about the difference in overall efficacy between this vaccine (70%) and the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines (95%).
“However, it is encouraging to see that, in a sub-analysis, a fractional dosing schedule in which the first dose was administered at a lower level than the second resulted in greater efficacy and gave comparable results to the other vaccines (90% ). “
Dr Michael Head, Principal Investigator in Global Health at the University of Southampton, said: “We have more exciting news that vaccine development is succeeding.
“It is still not entirely clear why a half dose and then a full dose were potentially more protective, but if the final results continue to show this pattern of around 90% effectiveness, this would allow a greater supply of vaccines not only in the UK but also globally. “
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