The vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca not only protects people from serious illness and death but also substantially slows the transmission of the virus, according to a new study - a finding that underscores the importance of mass vaccination as a path out of the pandemic.
The study by researchers at the University of Oxford is the first to document evidence that any coronavirus vaccine can reduce transmission of the virus.
Researchers measured the impact on transmission by swabbing participants every week seeking to detect signs of the virus. If there is no virus present, even if someone is infected, it cannot be spread. And they found a 67 per cent reduction in positive swabs among those vaccinated.
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A vaccine which hampers transmission could provide a window for reducing anti-Covid measures more quickly.
Dr Gillies O’Bryan-Tear, Past Chair, Policy and Communications, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine, said such a result would be the holy grail of vaccine rollout.
He said: “If these vaccines reduce transmission to the extent reported, it will mean that the easing of social restrictions will be enabled sooner, than if we have to wait for herd immunity [which may never in fact be achieved because of insufficient vaccine population coverage]. That would be the holy grail of the global vaccine rollout, and these data bring us one step closer.”
Pharmaceutical manufacturer AstraZeneca and the European Union have pledged to work together to overcome difficulties in supplying COVID-19 vaccine after a high-profile contractual dispute.
Extending the time between Covid jabs: pragmatic or a gamble? 1 minute read
By Guillermo Ximenes
London, Jan 28 (efe-epa).- The decision in the United Kingdom to extend the period between Covid-19 vaccine doses has divided expert opinion as some see it as a pragmatic move to confront the emergency situation while others worry it could be too much of a gamble.
Sir Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, has said the “the great majority of the protection is given by the first vaccine” and that “the second will top that up and extend it over time.”
The British Society for Immunology signaled support for the strategy as a short-term measure given the “unprecedented situation” brought on by the pandemic, although it acknowledged that uncertainties remain given the plan is not based on clinical trials.
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Dr Mary Ramsay of PHE said the jab offers high levels of protection against Covid-19, particularly against severe illness.
Boris Johnson said he was not concerned by Germany s recommendation.
AstraZeneca said the jab s trial data supported efficacy in the over-65s.
Germany s vaccine committee said the AstraZeneca vaccine should only be given to people aged under 65, citing a lack of sufficient data to recommend use among older age groups.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is to decide on Friday whether to approve the vaccine for use across the EU.
But Dr Ramsay, head of immunisations at Public Health England, said: Both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are safe and provide high levels of protection against Covid-19, particularly against severe disease.