‘AstraZeneca vaccine less effective against South African virus’ | Abroad

The pharmaceutical company says in a response that it was a small-scale test in phase I / II. The first data did indeed indicate a limited effectiveness against mild disease, mainly due to the B.1.351 variant from South Africa. Efficacy against serious complaints that could lead to hospitalization could not be properly assessed because the vaccinated subjects were mainly young and healthy adults.

AstraZeneca believes that the vaccine can indeed protect against severe disease because the immune response elicited is comparable to that of other Covid-19 vaccines, with proven effectiveness against more severe cases. According to the spokesperson, this certainly applies if the interval between the doses is optimized to 8 to 12 weeks.

British mutation

Oxford scientists announced on Friday that the vaccine is just as effective against the British mutation as against the original virus strain for which it was made. Their research results have not yet been assessed by other experts. Oxford states that vaccinated people who become infected carry fewer virus particles and get rid of them more quickly

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