Covid 19 coronavirus: AstraZeneca says Oxford vaccine is ‘highly effective’ prevention

AstraZeneca said today that late-stage trials of its Covid-19 vaccine developed with the University of Oxford were “highly effective” in preventing disease.

The results are based on an interim analysis of trials in Great Britain and Brazil of the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and manufactured by AstraZeneca.

No hospitalizations or severe cases of Covid-19 were reported in those who received the vaccine, AstraZeneca said.

“These findings show that we have an effective vaccine that will save many lives. It is exciting that one of our dosing regimens can be around 90 percent effective,” said Professor Andrew Pollard, principal investigator of the trial.

The trial looked at two different dosing regimens: a half dose of the vaccine followed by a full dose at least one month apart was 90 percent effective. A second regimen using two full doses one month apart was 62% effective. The combined results showed an average efficacy rate of 70 percent.

“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,” said AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot.

“In addition, the vaccine’s simple supply chain and our non-profit promise 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.”

Two other drug makers, Pfizer and Moderna, last week reported preliminary results from late-stage trials showing their Covid-19 vaccines were nearly 95 percent effective.