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A COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford in the UK and AstraZeneca has an average effectiveness of 70.4%, according to an interim analysis announced today. In trials, the efficacy of the vaccine varied with the doses administered. When two full doses were given one month apart, the efficacy was 62%, but increased to 90% when the vaccine was given first as a half dose and then as a full dose.
The announcement follows promising early results from vaccines developed by Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna, both of which appear to have slightly higher efficacy rates of 95%. However, according to BBC News, Oxford vaccine has the advantage of being cheaper and easier to store, as it can be transported and handled at normal refrigerated temperatures. Pfizer vaccine should be stored at -70 degrees Celsius (-94 degrees Fahrenheit). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) previously said vaccines would need to be at least 50% effective to gain its approval.
The Oxford vaccine trial involved more than 23,000 participants in the UK and Brazil. Of the participants who received the vaccine, 30 developed COVID-19, compared with 101 participants who received the placebo, BBC News reports. There were no hospitalizations or severe cases of COVID-19 among participants who received the vaccine, says AstraZeneca.
“We are really happy with these results,” said Professor Andrew Pollard, principal investigator of the trial. BBC. He added that the higher efficacy rate for the initial half dose potentially means that there will be “a lot more doses to dispense”.
With the latest round of trials completed, the team is preparing to submit the vaccine for regulatory approval. If approved, AstraZeneca hopes to manufacture three billion doses of the vaccine for distribution around the world. The Guardian advises that a deployment could begin in a few weeks.
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