BREAKING—Oxford-AstraZeneca not only protects people from serious illness and death but also substantially slows the transmission of #SARSCoV2, finding thr #COVID19 vaccine cuts transmission by nearly 2/3rds (pre print). It means it can slow the pandemic. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/02/us/astrazeneca-coronavirus-vaccine.html

2) also, analyses reveal that a **single standard dose** efficacy from day 22 to day 90 post vaccination of 76% with protection not falling in this three-month period for symptomatic #COVID19

3) After the second dose vaccine efficacy from two standard doses is 82.4% with the 3-month interval being used in the UK. (82.4% effective, with a 95% confidence interval of 62.7% - 91.7% at 12+ weeks)

4) And indeed we see the strongest vaccine efficacy when the second dose is delayed 12 or more weeks, and the strongest neutralizing potential of blood from vaccinated patients when spacing out the 2 doses by that longer duration.

5) that said, for asymptomatic illness it’s less efficacious. But they found 47% efficacy in the low dose 1st shot / standard dose 2nd shot when spaced out by 12 or more weeks.

6) there is even suggestions of efficacy reaching over 90% with the longer 12 week delay combined with excluding the elderly among those with the low dose 1st shot regimen, possibly. Panel C.

https://poseidon01.ssrn.com/delivery.php?ID=504031005120106017122082085121023119048062042032042036011046110063110055061088029053016064116095080001072115083088075079100127119078028054085064042065089029084053065054015079111092126067016007026010019124054017022124118025114064117127064002080114098113099068024091029112004125071064075084004&EXT=pdf&INDEX=TRUE

7) Also how long did anti #SARSCoV2 spike protein IgG antibody last after just a single dose? A long time- at least 180 days (limit of the trial followup duration), though it dropped 33% by 90 days, and 64% by 180 days. But this is still good. Also T cell immunity not accounted.

8) Professor Andrew Pollard, Chief Investigator of Oxford Vaccine Trial said:
‘These new data provide an important verification of the interim data that was used by more than 25 regulators including the MHRA and EMA to grant the vaccine emergency use authorisation.”

9) ‘It also supports policy recommendation made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation for a 12-week prime-boost interval, as they look for the optimal approach to roll out, & reassures us that people are protected from 22 days after a single dose of the vaccine.’

10) The analyses suggest that dosing interval & not dosing level has a great impact on the efficacy of the vaccine. This is in line with previous research supporting greater efficacy with longer prime-boost intervals done with other vaccines such as influenza, Ebola and malaria.

11) The authors also report further on the potential for the vaccine to reduce transmission of the virus, based on swabs obtained from volunteers in the UK arms of the trial with a 67% reduction after the first dose of the vaccine.

12) They also hope to report data regarding the new variants in the coming days, and expect the findings to be broadly similar to those already reported by fellow vaccine developers. https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-02-02-oxford-coronavirus-vaccine-shows-sustained-protection-76-during-3-month-interval

13) Matt Hancock, the British health secretary, hailed the results on Wednesday as “absolutely superb.”
“We now know that the Oxford vaccine also reduces transmission and that will help us all get out of this pandemic,” Mr. Hancock said in Wednesday morning with the BBC.

14) The results, he said, “should give everyone confidence that this jab works not only to keep you safe but to keep you from passing on the virus to others.”

15) latest data do not have bearing on the debate over whether to further space out the doses of the two vaccines authorized in the United States, those from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, since the data on AstraZeneca’s candidate cannot be generalized to other vaccines.

16) Some scientists have called on the United States to follow the lead of Britain and other countries that have opted to delay the second doses of vaccines by up to 12 weeks. But U.S. federal officials have resisted, saying such a move would not be supported by the data

17) the new results could amplify pressure on U.S. health officials to delay second doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine, though it has not yet been authorized by the country.

18) Hospitalization data: pretty good, after 22 days (the initial immunity buildup time), there was Zero hospitalizations!!!

19) And looks how the 2nd booster dose delayed 12 weeks or more really increases neutralizing antibody levels in one’s blood the most, compared to shorter time gap between doses. 12 weeks for maximum benefit!

20 Great to also see UK vaccinations per day rising steadily.

21) Meanwhile, here are the new results for the Sputnik V vaccine trial. 91.6%. https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1356591721728126978