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Early trial data of AstraZeneca vaccine shows limited efficacy against mile disease due to the South Africa variant BUT they don’t know yet if that means it will also be limited against severe disease (what we’re really worried about) because the trial was mainly young people
AZ thinks it could still be effective against severe disease & hospitalisations because antibody activity is similar to other vaccines that are effective - especially if doses are optimised with an 8-12 week gap
Oxford & AstraZeneca have already started adapting the vaccine for the SA variant and are developing it so it could be ready to go in Autumn if needed
AstraZeneca: “In this small phase I/II trial, early data has shown limited efficacy against mild disease primarily due to the B.1.351 South African variant. However, we have not been able to properly ascertain its effect against severe disease and hospitalisation given that....
...subjects were predominantly young healthy adults. We do believe our vaccine could protect against severe disease, as neutralising antibody activity is equivalent to that of other COVID-19 vaccines that have demonstrated activity against more severe disease, particularly when..
...the dosing interval is optimised to 8-12 weeks. Further, correlates of protection are unknown and other immune responses, such as T cell responses may have a role in protection against disease. Initial data indicates these responses may remain intact in B.1.351 variants....
Oxford University and AstraZeneca have started adapting the vaccine against this variant and will advance rapidly through clinical development so that it is ready for Autumn delivery should it be needed.”
*Mild disease not mile- sorry!
