OLD GET MAX FROM VAX
THE Oxford University vaccine has been shown to protect the elderly from coronavirus.
The jab, developed with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, triggered a “robust immune response” across all age groups, including the over-70s.
It came as the UK recorded a rise in confirmed Covid-19 cases yesterday after six days of falling numbers.
All eyes are now on the
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Oxford vaccine’s phase 3 results, which are expected in the coming weeks.
It will come after two other vaccine candidates by Pfizer and Moderna published phase 3 results showing their jabs are effective.
Oxford’s phase 2 trial data, published in The Lancet, demonstrated similar immune responses across all three age groups, 18 to 55, 56 to 69, and the over-70s. Prof Andrew Pollard, the head of the Oxford vaccine group, said: “The most important thing is to think about which categories of individuals are, number one, most at risk of severe disease and death.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted: “There is still much work to be done, but this is a really encouraging set of findings from the @UniofOxford and @AstraZeneca vaccine.”
If confirmed in Phase 3 the result will transform the UK’s capability to rapidly vaccinate the population.
The UK has secured 40million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine and five million of Moderna’s, but has staked most on the jab being developed by Oxford and AstraZeneca, reserving 100million doses. The Oxford jab has been part-funded by the Government so would be much cheaper.
It is thought to cost less than £2 a dose compared with other jabs costing about £30 per jab. It is manufactured in the UK so could be rolled out rapidly, starting before Christmas.
However, experts have warned that it can take a fortnight for immunity to develop after the jab so it is unlikely to save Christmas.