Oxford university industrial partner in the development of a Covid-19 vaccine British pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca has just announced their vaccine was 100% effective against severe forms of coronavirus. This is good news as France has started vaccinating the most vulnerable people.
In the Sunday Times, Astra Zeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot says: "We think we have figured out the winning formula and how to get efficacy that, after two doses, is up there with everybody else". He adds vaccine provides "100% protection" against severe forms of Covid-19.
The laboratory announced they will quickly submit results to authorities to get authorization. The group aims at 3 billion doses manufactured and made available in 2021.
Note that unlike the Pfizer vaccine that can only be stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius, AstraZeneca vaccine is cheaper and easier to stock. “This "home grown vaccine" is easier to administer than the Pfizer vaccine as it does not need to be stored a -70 °C” British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Sky News.
When the vaccine will be issued, it will be necessary to make mass vaccination easier to the general public. The United Kingdom has already ordered 100 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, including 40 million available by late March.
From now on, the vaccine also has to be effective against the virus mutation. As more and more people are being infected by the new strain of Covid-19, laboratories remain on the watch. "For the time being, we belive that the vaccine should remain effective" Soriot said, adding "but we can't be sure, so we're going to test it". HE assured new versions were being prepared just in case, while hoping not to need them: "You have to be prepared".
