I efficacy results of the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford together with the multinational AstraZeneca are fruit of chance. The same English university admitted this when it communicated in a note an “error occurred in the production phase”.
Covid, AstraZeneca admits mistakes about Oxford vaccine: effectiveness
The researchers had announced preliminary data on the experimentation of the vaccine candidate, revealing how they had detected a90% efficacy by administering only half a dose to some volunteers. A much smaller percentage, 62%, was found with the injection of a full vial.
Sarah Gilbert, head of the British research team, explained that the immune system “is activated by the right dose for youi ”, which does not necessarily mean it is the highest one.
However, it was not a conscious strategy: the scientists realized only later that a small group of volunteers did not present no signs of side effect that it was also just fatigue or the red mark in the area of the puncture.
By checking the vials used, they discovered that due to a production error the concentration of the active ingredient was halved compared to what is stated on the label.
Covid, AstraZeneca admits mistakes on Oxford vaccine: the data
If on the one hand the vaccine has obtained excellent results by chance, on the other hand it is possible that the data collected on the experimentation have been compromised by this circumstance.
The halved dose, in fact, was administered only to 2,700 volunteers out of the total 23,000, all young under the age of 55. For this reason there is the possibility, as explained by the note sent by the University of Oxford, that the higher efficacy is due to the fact that the immune system in young people responds better to vaccines. Or that the small number of actors involved are more susceptible to statistical fluctuations.
The trials still in progress are verifying these eventualities and investigating these factors. Days should be the results have been published in scientific journals, pending the evaluations on the authorizations by the regulatory authorities, expected in about a month.
AstraZeneca explained that at the moment theCovid protection occurs 14 days or more after receiving two doses of the vaccine and that the vaccine can be stored, transported and handled under normal refrigerated conditions (2-8 ° C) for at least 6 months and administered within existing health facilities.
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