New trial data for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. showed the vaccine is 100% effective in stopping severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19, the company said Monday.
- The vaccine is 79% effective in stopping symptomatic disease, which is similar to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (which is 72% effective against symptomatic cases in the U.S., per The New York Times).
What’s going on?
The findings from the new phase 3 trial of the AstraZeneca vaccine — which included more than 32,000 participants — did not show any safety concerns over the vaccine.
- AstraZeneca said in a release that an independent group “found no increased risk of thrombosis or events characterized by thrombosis among the 21,583 participants receiving at least one dose of the vaccine.”
Context
In the past few weeks, controversy erupted over the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine. Countries like Romania, Thailand, Italy and others decided to suspend the use of the vaccine because there were fears it created blood clots, as I wrote for the Deseret News.
- According to CNBC, there were “reports of severe cases of blood clots in people who have been vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca.”
However, World Health Organization spokeswoman Margaret Harris said there weren’t any links between the vaccine and blood clots.
- “Yes, we should continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine,” Harris said.
The Washington Post reported that “no causal link had been established” between the vaccine and blood clots, either.
What’s next?
Ruud Dobber, president of AstraZeneca’s biopharmaceuticals business team, told CNBC that the company will apply for emergency use authorization at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the beginning of April, according to Reuters.
- If approved, the AstraZeneca vaccine would be the fourth available vaccine for Americans.