Oxford and AstraZeneca announce their vaccine is 70% effective on average – but works 90% of the time if given with a half dose – and it can be stored in a normal fridge
The Oxford University/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine is 70 per cent effective at preventing COVID-19 – 25 per cent lower that US-produced rivals, preliminary results have revealed today.
The life-saving jab is viewed as Britain’s best chance of mass-inoculation of the population because Boris Johnson has ordered 100million.
But vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna showed 95 per cent protection.
However, Oxford University/AstraZeneca say they have found no serious Covid-19 cases among any of 20,000 people who received the jab.
Oxford University said that interim analysis from its phase three vaccine trial shows that the 70% effectiveness comes from combining two doses. One was 90% effective, the other 62%.
A coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University can prevent 70.4% of people from getting Covid-19, data shows
In a statement, Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and chief investigator of the Oxford Vaccine Trial, said:
‘These findings show that we have an effective vaccine that will save many lives. Excitingly, we’ve found that one of our dosing regimens may be around 90% effective and if this dosing regime is used, more people could be vaccinated with planned vaccine supply.
‘Today’s announcement is only possible thanks to the many volunteers in our trial, and the hard working and talented team of researchers based around the world.’
His colleague, Professor Sarah Gilbert, Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford, said: ‘The announcement today takes us another step closer to the time when we can use vaccines to bring an end to the devastation caused by (Covid-19).
‘We will continue to work to provide the detailed information to regulators. It has been a privilege to be part of this multi-national effort which will reap benefits for the whole world.’
The UK has placed orders for 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine – enough to vaccinate most of the population – with rollout expected in the coming weeks if the jab is approved.
However, Oxford University/AstraZeneca say they have found no serious Covid-19 cases among any of 20,000 people who the received jab (a volunteer getting the injection in Brazil this year)
It also has orders for 40 million doses of a jab from Pfizer and BioNTech, which has been shown to be 95% effective. Another jab from Moderna is 95% effective, according to trial data.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma said the results of an interim analysis of the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vacccine candidate were ‘very promising’.
He tweeted: ‘Very promising data from the Oxford/AstraZeneca Phase III clinical trials. We are on the cusp of a huge scientific breakthrough that could protect millions of lives. The UK has secured early access to 100m doses of their vaccine – on top of 255m doses from other developers.’