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The University of Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective, an independent analysis confirmed.
Researchers say the jab will have a “big impact” on the coronavirus pandemic.
The study, published in The Lancet, is the first peer-reviewed analysis to look at phase 3 data from a vaccine trial.
Scientists working on the vaccine highlighted the importance of “transparency” and sharing of data within the scientific community.
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They expect the vaccine to be approved for use in the UK “in the next few weeks.”
Nearly 12,000 volunteers have participated in the trial in both the UK and Brazil.
The results show, on average, the efficacy of the vaccine was 70.4%.
In a group that received two standard doses, the efficacy was 62.1%.
But in a group that accidentally got half a dose, then a full dose, efficiency rose to 90%.
The data has been submitted to regulatory bodies around the world for approval.
Professor Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and Chief Investigator of the Oxford Vaccine Trial, said: “Today, we have published the interim analysis of the phase III trial and we show that this new vaccine has a good safety and efficacy record against coronavirus. .
“We are very grateful to our trial volunteers for working with us for the past eight months to lead us to this milestone.”
The vaccine is simple and cheap to produce and can be manufactured in large quantities at low cost.
Unlike the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, it does not need to be kept at ultra-low temperatures.
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Sarah Gilbert, a professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford, described today as “probably the best day of 2020.”
She said: “Following the demonstration of the efficacy of the vaccine in many preclinical studies, we now have clear evidence of efficacy in the trial results presented today in a peer-reviewed publication.
“Now under regulatory review, we hope this vaccine will be in use soon to start saving lives.”
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The trial is still ongoing and questions remain about how long it provides immunity and whether people might need a booster.
It will be up to independent regulators to decide what doses can be given to people.
The UK has ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine.
