Covid-19: Oxford University vaccine is highly effective (but less so than Pfizer and Moderna)

[jmyrlefuller]

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55040635

The coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford is highly effective at stopping people developing Covid-19 symptoms, a large trial shows.

Interim data suggests 70% protection, but the researchers say the figure may be as high as 90% by tweaking the dose.

(excerpt)

[jmyrlefuller]

Related: the Oxford one is the same one being developed by AstraZeneca in the U.S.
https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/astrazeneca-late-stage-covid-19-vaccine-trials-highly-effective/507-c870162a-18d9-4b23-bce8-04732f8bf585

[rustynail]

Is the vaccine the mark of the beast?

[Victoria33]

Is the vaccine the mark of the beast?

@rustynail

Good question.

[PeteS in CA]

Related: the Oxford one is the same one being developed by AstraZeneca in the U.S.
https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/astrazeneca-late-stage-covid-19-vaccine-trials-highly-effective/507-c870162a-18d9-4b23-bce8-04732f8bf585

University of Oxford, its company Vaccitech, and AstraZeneca have been partners on this vaccine since Phase I testing began in April:

April 23, 2020 - University of Oxford researchers began Phase I trial of a COVID-19 vaccine; https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-04-23-oxford-covid-19-vaccine-begins-human-trial-stage , https://www.bbc.com/news/health-52394485 , https://www.vaccitech.co.uk/oxford-covid-19-vaccine-begins-human-trial-stage/

April 23, 2020 - Vaccitech and the University of Oxford announced an agreement with biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca for the further development, large-scale manufacture and potential distribution of Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine; https://www.vaccitech.co.uk/vaccitech-and-oxford-university-announce-landmark-partnership-with-astrazeneca-for-the-development-and-large-scale-distribution-of-the-covid-19-vaccine-candidate/

[PeteS in CA]

From the BBC article:

However, the Oxford jab is far cheaper, and is easier to store and get to every corner of the world than the other two.
...
There are two results from the trial of more than 20,000 volunteers in the UK and Brazil.

Overall, there were 30 cases of Covid in people who had two doses of the vaccine and 101 cases in people who received a dummy injection. The researchers said it worked out at 70% protection, which is better than the seasonal flu jab.

In practical terms:

* The Pfizer vaccine needs to be transported and stored at around the temperature of dry ice, ~-110F;

* The Moderna vaccine can be stored at room temperature for 12 hours, for 30 days at ordinary refrigerator temperatures, and for 6 months at ordinary freezer temperatures; https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-announces-longer-shelf-life-its-covid-19-vaccine

* The AstraZeneca vaccine should be stored at refrigerator temperatures; the BBC article chart doesn't say for how long it will remain stable.

The 20,000 participants number and that some were in Brazil indicates that the data is from the Phase III (final pre-approval phase) tests, which are being conducted in the UK, South Africa, Brazil, US, and Japan.

[PeteS in CA]

The BBC article obscures what was tested and as a consequence conflates the results. From the AstraZeneca press release, https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-announces-longer-shelf-life-its-covid-19-vaccine :

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 endpoint, and no hospitalisations or severe cases of the disease were reported in participants receiving the vaccine. There were a total of 131 COVID-19 cases in the interim analysis.

One dosing regimen (n=2,741) showed vaccine efficacy of 90% when AZD1222 was given as a half dose, followed by a full dose at least one month apart, and another dosing regimen (n=8,895) showed 62% efficacy when given as two full doses at least one month apart. The combined analysis from both dosing regimens (n=11,636) resulted in an average efficacy of 70%. All results were statistically significant (p<=0.0001). More data will continue to accumulate and additional analysis will be conducted, refining the efficacy reading and establishing the duration of protection.

An independent Data Safety Monitoring Board determined that the analysis met its primary endpoint showing protection from COVID-19 occurring 14 days or more after receiving two doses of the vaccine. No serious safety events related to the vaccine have been confirmed. AZD1222 was well tolerated across both dosing regimens.

AstraZeneca will now immediately prepare regulatory submission of the data to authorities around the world that have a framework in place for conditional or early approval. The Company will seek an Emergency Use Listing from the World Health Organization for an accelerated pathway to vaccine availability in low-income countries. In parallel, the full analysis of the interim results is being submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
...
The Company is making rapid progress in manufacturing with a capacity of up to 3 billion doses of the vaccine in 2021 on a rolling basis, pending regulatory approval. The vaccine can be stored, transported and handled at normal refrigerated conditions (2-8 degrees Celsius/ 36-46 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least six months and administered within existing healthcare settings.

One of the dosing regimens had 62% effectiveness while the other had 90% effectiveness.

At ordinary refrigerator temperatures the vaccine will remain effective for at least 6 months.

AstraZeneca may submit to the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization in the next week or two.

[rustynail]

Is the vaccine the mark of the beast?

Qantas airline to mandate COVID-19 vaccine for international flights https://trib.al/ncD8IUn

[PeteS in CA]

Sounds like a good opportunity to inform Qantas and your local Oz consulate that you'll be taking your vay-cay and business elsewhere.