The results of the long-awaited US trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine are available and confirm that the vaccine is safe and highly effective.
The BBC reports.
The vaccine was 79% effective in stopping symptomatic Covid disease and 100% effective in preventing people from becoming seriously ill.
No safety concerns were found with regard to blood clots.
More than 32,000 volunteers participated in the trial, mainly in America, but also in Chile and Peru.
About a fifth of the volunteers in this study were over 65, and the vaccine, given in two doses, four weeks apart, provided them with the same protection compared to age groups. younger. The results of this trial should pave the way for regulatory authorities to approve the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine in the United States within the next month or two. The lead researcher of the vaccine trial at the University of Oxford, Prof. Andrew Pollard, said: "'These results are great news as they show the remarkable efficacy of the vaccine in a new population and are consistent with the results of the Oxford studies. We can expect a strong impact against Covid-19 in all areas. age and for people of all backgrounds from the widespread use of the vaccine ". Professor Sarah Gilbert, co-designer of the vaccine, in turn noted: "In many different countries and in all age groups, the vaccine provides a high level of protection against Covid-19 and we hope this will lead to a even more widespread use of the vaccine in global attempts to end the pandemic. " "It's really important to have the ability to protect people as quickly as possible. This vaccine will save lives," Gilbert added.