The Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine significantly reduces the chances of spread after only one jab, a new study suggests.
The study, published in Preprints with The Lancet, also found that the vaccine provides roughly 75% protection against COVID. After the second dose vaccine efficacy from two standard doses is 82.4% with the 3-month interval being used in the UK. Additionally, the study suggests that a single dose can eliminate severe illness among those who contract Coronavirus.
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‘These new data provide an important verification of the interim data that was used by more than 25 regulators including the MHRA and EMA to grant the vaccine emergency use authorisation,’ said Professor Andrew Pollard, Chief Investigator of the Oxford Vaccine Trial.
‘It also supports the policy recommendation made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) for a 12-week prime-boost interval, as they look for the optimal approach to roll out, and reassures us that people are protected from 22 days after a single dose of the vaccine.’
Read more: COVID-19: New Oxford vaccine rolled out to general practice services
The study also suggests that suggest that it is the dosing interval and not the dosing level which has a great impact on the efficacy of the vaccine. This is in line with previous research supporting greater efficacy with longer prime-boost intervals done with other vaccines such as influenza, Ebola and malaria.
‘This is a really encouraging study – THANK YOU to the teams at University of Oxford and AstraZeneca,’ tweeted Matt Hancock, the Health and Social Care Secretary.
‘Vaccines are the way out of this pandemic & we are making fantastic progress vaccinating the most vulnerable.’
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