Rohit Shishodia
The Covid vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca has shown 70% efficacy. In India, this vaccine is being developed in association between Serum Institute of India and AstraZeneca. The results of the vaccine’s efficacy have been revealed in United Kingdom and Brazil trials.

“On dosing regimen shows vaccine efficacy of 90% when AZD1222 was given as half dose, followed by full dose at least a month apart. Second dosing regimen shows 62% efficacy when given two full doses at least a month apart. Combined analysis has average efficacy of 70%,” AstraZeneca said in a statement.

The statement informs that positive high-level results from an interim analysis of clinical trials of AZD1222 in the UK and Brazil showed the vaccine was highly effective in preventing Covid 19, the primary end point, no hospitalizations or severe cases of the disease were reported in participants receiving the vaccine. There were 131 Covid 19 cases in the interim analysis.

The company adds that all results were statistically significant. More data will continue to accumulate and additional analysis will be conducted, refining the efficacy reading and establishing the duration of protection.

Professor Andrew Pollard, Chief Investigator of the Vaccine Trial at Oxford said, “These findings show that we have an effective vaccine that will save many lives. Exactingly, we have 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 many volunteers in our trial, and hardworking and talented team of researchers based around the world,” he added.      

“Today marks an important milestone in fight against Covid 19. Interim data show the Oxford vaccine is 70.4% effective, and tests on two doses regimens show that it could be 90%, moving us one step closer to supplying it at low cost around the world,” said University of Oxford in one of the series of tweets.

“In partnership with AstraZeneca, we are hoping to supply 3 billion doses of the vaccine and make it available to people around the world by the end of next year. The OxfordVaccine can be stored at fridge temperature and deployed quickly using existing infrastructure,” tweeted the University of Oxford.

“With over 23,000 trials volunteers we will present a large safety database for independent review. We plan to submit for publication as soon as possible, to make sure Oxford vaccine data is peer reviewed and available for scrutiny,” said the university.

Reacting to developments, Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India, said, “I am delighted to hear that Covishield, a low-cost, logistically manageable and soon to be widely available, Covid vaccine, will offer protection upto 90% in one type of dosage regime and 62% in the other type of dosage regime.