[ad_1]
The results of the trial on the Covid-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford in Great Britain and AstraZeneca showed that it safely induces a strong immune response in healthy elderly people, with the results of the second phase of the trial published on Thursday.
The experimental vaccine produced fewer side effects in people 56 and older compared to younger people, an important finding given that Covid-19 disproportionately causes severe symptoms among the elderly.
Manufacturers said the vaccine is undergoing larger and more comprehensive phase III trials to confirm the results.
Immune responses caused by vaccines tend to decline as people age, as the immune system gradually slows down with age. This makes the elderly more vulnerable to a variety of diseases.
“As a result, it is extremely important that Covid-19 vaccines are tested in this group, which is also a priority group for immunization,” said Andre Pollard, an Oxford professor and lead author of the study results published in the scientific journal. The Lancet.
The second phase of the trial involved 560 participants, 240 of whom were over 70 years old. The participants were divided into groups that received one or two doses of the vaccine or a placebo.
Their immune responses were assessed on the day of vaccination and then several times over the following weeks.
The researchers said the response was “similar” in all age groups.
“The research shows that the immune response originated in all age groups, including the group of participants older than 70 years,” said Michael Head, a researcher at the University of Southampton who was not involved in the trial.
He added: “This is good news, as the elderly will be one of the priority groups to receive the vaccine when it becomes available.”
The Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine is one of 48 vaccines undergoing human trials against Covid-19, according to the World Health Organization.
This month, Pfizer / Biontech and Moderna announced the results of phase 3 trials that typically involve tens of thousands of people and indicated that both candidate vaccines were effective in preventing COVID-19.
[ad_2]
