The news: Oxford University and AstraZeneca have reported that their covid-19 vaccine is up to 90% effective, according to interim data from the Phase III trial. The trial found that the vaccine was 70% effective when the data of two different dosing regimes was combined, one of which was 90% and the other 62%. The 90% effective dosing regime used a halved first dose and a full second dose, compared to the 62% effective regime where participants were given two full doses. There are more than 24,000 volunteers participating in the ongoing trial in the UK, Brazil, and South Africa.
Why it’s promising: The data is yet to be submitted for peer review or publication, but the trial researchers say it suggests the vaccine also reduced asymptomatic transmission. This would mean the vaccine not only helps stop people getting unwell, but also helps to cut transmission rates of the virus. No one who received the vaccine was hospitalized or experienced serious illness and it worked well across all age ranges.
Old-school: While Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines are both based on new mRNA technology, the Oxford vaccine is a more traditional adenovirus vaccine. It relies on a weaker version of a virus that causes the common cold in chimps that has been tweaked so it cannot grow in humans. Adenovirus vaccines are easier to store and transport. That’s why, unlike Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna’s vaccines, which require extremely cold storage, the Oxford vaccine can be stored at fridge temperature (35.6-46.4°F).
Who gets it? Oxford and AstraZeneca have committed to provide the vaccine on a not-for-profit basis for the duration of the pandemic across the world, and permanently for low- and middle-income countries. AstraZeneca already has agreements to supply three billion doses of the vaccine. The UK has ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine, which is enough to vaccinate the majority of its population. If approved, rollout will start before Christmas. Australia has ordered 34 million doses, too.
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