Study: AstraZeneca is effective in protecting the elderly

Although these results have not yet been published in any peer-reviewed journal, they add to growing evidence that a vaccine that is not recommended for people over 65 in many countries is safe and effective for the elderly.

Researchers at the University of Bristol have been monitoring patients over the age of 80 hospitalized in Britain for respiratory illnesses.

All patients were evaluated for COVID-19. People with positive or negative test results were divided into two groups for data analysis.

The researchers looked at how many people in each group had received at least one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine or a product developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.

Nine of the 36 (25%) confirmed COVID-19 patients were vaccinated with Astra Zeneca.

Among the 90 patients for whom coronavirus infection was not confirmed, 53 people (58.9 percent) were vaccinated with the drug.

In the single-dose group, the ratio of coronavirus-infected subjects to COVID-19 naïve subjects was 80.4%. effectiveness in protecting against a serious form of infection, say the researchers.

Of the 245 subjects who received COVID-19, 18 had received a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Of the 269 people for whom coronavirus infection was not confirmed, 90 received Pfizer.

This would correspond to 71.4 percent. the efficacy of the vaccine.

“A dose [„Pfizer“ arba „AstraZeneca“] The vaccines significantly reduced the risk of hospitalization associated with COVID-19 in frail elderly patients with severe comorbidities, ”the study authors said.

Stephen Evans, professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the results “provide more evidence that vaccines are effective in the elderly, less in [klinikinius] tests “.

Both vaccines are designed to be given in two doses several weeks apart. This vaccination regimen has been used in clinical trials.