AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine effective 70% on average

Oxford-AstraZeneca announce their vaccine is up to 90% effective and can be stored in a normal fridge

Trials found the jab to be 90% effective when given as a half-dose then a full dose one month later
This dropped to 62% when someone was given a full dose then another full dose a month later
Oxford University and pharma company AstraZeneca say no serious virus cases in 20,000-person trial
Vaccine costs between £2 and £4 per dose and can stored in normal UK fridge without specialist equipment
Jabs being developed by Pfizer and Moderna in the US have produced 95% protection but more expensive

(CNN)) Drugmaker AstraZeneca announced on Monday that its experimental coronavirus vaccine has shown an average efficacy of 70% in its large scale trials — the latest of several vaccine trials worldwide to post their results this month. The vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, showed 90% efficacy in one dosing regimen — when the vaccine was given as a half dose, followed by a full dose at least a month later — and 62% efficacy in a second regimen — when two full doses were given at least a month apart.

That averages to a 70% efficacy, AstraZeneca said.

The company said in a news release that its vaccine was “highly effective in preventing COVID-19, the primary endpoint, and no hospitalisations or severe cases of the disease were reported in participants receiving the vaccine.”

The interim analysis included a total of 131 Covid-19 cases, according to the release.

Monday’s news comes after Moderna announced earlier this month that its vaccine was 94.5% effective against coronavirus, and Pfizer announced its vaccine was 95% effective.

Here is the story as reported in the UK:

The study, involving more than 24,000 volunteers, found there were no serious cases of Covid-19 among those who were given the vaccine, including no hospitalisations. Data also suggests the vaccine might stop the virus transmitting even among people who never get symptoms of the illness. Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said his team’s jab would play a key ‘part in getting the world back to normal’. Health Secretary Matt Hancock hailed the results this morning, saying millions of doses will be ready to go by the end of December. He told the BBC: ‘We hope to be able to start vaccinating next month. The bulk of the vaccine rollout programme will be in January, February, March. And we hope that sometime after Easter things will be able to start to get back to normal.’

Oxford’s jab is viewed as Britain’s best chance of mass-inoculation of the population by the end of spring because Boris Johnson has ordered 100million doses, enough to inoculate 50million people. The UK already has 3million ready to go, which could see 1.5million people vaccinated before the end of 2020.

The Prime Minister said this morning: ‘Incredibly exciting news the Oxford vaccine has proved so effective in trials. There are still further safety checks ahead, but these are fantastic results.’ Results from Oxford’s trials will be sent to the British drug regulator, the MHRA, so it can assess the vaccine’s safety, effectiveness, and that it is manufactured to high standard. The MHRA has been doing a ‘rolling review’ of the vaccine and could, as a result, complete the approval process within a matter of days of receiving the data. The London stock market edged up today following news of the breakthrough vaccine and as the City awaits Mr Johnson’s plans for a strengthened three-tier system of coronavirus restrictions to replace the national lockdown in England.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock (left) hailed the results this morning, saying millions of doses will be ready to go by the end of December. Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said his team’s jab would play a key ‘part in getting the world back to normal’ A coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University can prevent 70.4% of people from getting Covid-19, data shows