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RESULT
- The coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford stops 70% of people developing Covid symptoms, a large-scale trial shows.
- It will be seen as a triumph, but also comes off the back of Pfizer and Moderna showing 95% protection.
- However, the Oxford jab is far cheaper, and is easier to store and get to every corner of the world than the other two.
RESULT
- So it will play a significant role in tackling the pandemic, if it is approved by regulators.
- There is also intriguing data that suggests perfecting the dose could increase protection up to 90%.
- The UK government has pre-ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine, enough to immunise 50 million people.
What did the trial show?
- More than 20,000 volunteers were involved, half in the UK, the rest in Brazil.
- 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 works out at 70% protection.
When will I get it?
- In the UK there are four million doses ready to go, with another 96 million to be delivered.
- But nothing can happen until the vaccine has been approved by regulators who will assess the vaccine’s safety, effectiveness, and that it is manufactured to high standard. This process will happen in the coming weeks.
How does it work?
- The vaccine is a genetically modified common cold virus that used to infect chimpanzees.
- It has been altered to stop it causing an infection in people and to carry the blueprints for part of the coronavirus, known as the spike protein.
- Once these blueprints are inside the body they start the producing the coronavirus’ spike protein, which the immune system recognizes as a threat and tries to squash it.
Are the results disappointing?
- After Pfizer and Moderna both produced vaccines delivering 95% protection from Covid-19, a figure of 70% will be seen by some as relatively disappointing.
- However, anything above 50% would have been considered a triumph just a month ago and 70% is comfortably better than the seasonal flu jab.
- This is still a vaccine that can save lives from Covid-19.
What difference will this make to my life?
- A vaccine is what we’ve spent the year waiting for and what lockdowns have bought time for.
- However, producing enough vaccine and then immunising tens of millions of people in the UK, and billions around the world, is still a gargantuan challenge.
- Life will not return to normal tomorrow, but the situation could improve dramatically as those most at risk are protected.
What’s the reaction been?
- Prof Peter Horby, from the University of Oxford by not involved in the trial, said: “This is very welcome news, we can clearly see the end of tunnel now. There were no Covid hospitalisations or deaths in people who got the Oxford vaccine.”
- Dr Stephen Griffin, from the University of Leeds, said: “This is yet more excellent news and should be considered tremendously exciting. It has great potential to be delivered across the globe, achieving huge public health benefits.
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