how it works, how effective is it

Published on: 12/30/2020 10:14 AM

The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is approved by the UK. Another weapon, after the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine, to counter the coronavirus. How does the vaccine work? What does storage and transportation require? How much? Questions that become even more current given that the product, abroad, will be administered to people over 18 years old probably from January 4.

Compared to the Pfizer vaccine, AstraZeneca is a ‘viral vector’. The mRNA is not injected to make the Sars-Cov-2 spike protein, but a harmless virus containing a useful DNA sequence is used to make the patient’s body produce the protein. The authorization recommends the administration of two doses with an interval of between four and 12 weeks.

On Sunday, in an interview with the Sunday Times, the CEO of AstraZeneca shed light on the effectiveness of the vaccine: The new data to be published, says Pascal Soriot, will show that the vaccine guarantees protection for 95% of patients, at the level of Pfizer and Moderna, and is “100% effective” in preventing the most serious forms of coronavirus-related illnesses that would otherwise require a patient hospitalization. “We believe that we have found the winning formula for effectiveness that, after 2 doses, is on par with all the others. I cannot say more because we will publish the data.”

Initially, a first trial showed an efficacy of 90% by combining a half dose in the first administration and a “full” dose in the second. .

Compared to the Pfizer vaccine, which requires a special ‘cold chain’ for storage and transport, AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine can be stored, transported and handled under normal refrigeration conditions (two to eight degrees Celsius) for up to at least 6 months and administered within existing health facilities. These items will also affect the price of each individual dose.

About ten days ago, the Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuw published a screenshot of a tweet from Belgian budget secretary Eva de Bleeker, who had published the prices of the various vaccines online. The undersecretary later deleted the tweet, but Hln took a screenshot and released it: according to the table, the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine is the cheapest (1.78 euros per dose). For Curevac it is 10 euros per dose, for Sanofi / Gsk 7.56 euros per dose, for Johnson & Johnson 8.5 dollars per dose.