They arrive new confirmations on the AstraZeneca vaccine. After the temporary stop imposed by the main European countries e the reassurances of the EMA, the results of the long-awaited come experimentation in the United States of the preparation developed by the Anglo-Swedish company.
ASTRAZENECA: THE AMERICAN STUDY
According to the study the vaccine would be 79% effective against symptomatic Covid-19 disease and 100% in preventing people from becoming seriously ill. Encouraging results that confirm the effectiveness of the vaccine, but also its safety, given that according to American experts "no security issues were noted regarding blood clots.
The analysis was conducted on over 32 participants in the USA, Chile and Peru. According to reports from the BBC, a fifth of the volunteers who participated in the study were over 65 years old and the vaccine, given in two doses four weeks apart, provided them with the same protection as groups of younger age.
Thanks to the positive results of the trial, the US Food & Drug Administration could decide di approve the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine by next month. The lead researcher of the Oxford University vaccine trial, 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 major impact against Covid-19 across all ages and for people of all different backgrounds from the widespread use of the vaccine." Professor Sarah Gilbert, co-designer of the vaccine, also noted: "In many different countries and across all age groups, the vaccine provides a high level of protection against Covid-19 and we hope this will lead to even more widespread use of the vaccine in global efforts to end the pandemic.” “It's really important to have the ability to keep people safe as quickly as possible. This vaccine will save lives,” Gilbert added.
EU TOWARDS EXPORT STOP
Meanwhile, in the European Union there is insistent talk of the possibility of block exports of AstraZeneca vaccines produced in EU factories with the aim of boosting the vaccination campaigns of the Member States. Everywhere in the old continent, the administrations proceed slowly due to the lack of doses.
AstraZeneca, to date, has delivered only 30% of the 90 million doses agreed for the first quarter, justifying the delays with alleged production problems in the plants located in Europe and the simultaneous blockage of exports from other countries, such as the United States and India, where the company has production plants that should also supply the EU. Furthermore, for the second quarter, the company is able to guarantee only 70 million doses out of the 180 million agreed.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, told the German newspaper Funke last Saturday: "We have the option to block planned exports, this is the message for AstraZeneca: respect your contract with Europe before starting shipments to other countries". The theme will be the focus of the next EU council scheduled for Thursday 25 March.
The possible stop to exports would especially damage the United Kingdom, which to date has received all the promised doses and where the vaccination campaign is proceeding at a rapid pace.
