AstraZeneca said in a statement on Monday that the Phase III trial of its COVID-19 vaccine – which was conducted in the United States – showed a 79% effectiveness in preventing symptomatic infections and a 100% effectiveness “in preventing serious illness and hospitalization “.
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The statement said the vaccine “was well tolerated” and an independent Data Security Monitoring Committee “did not identify safety concerns related to the vaccine”.
Earlier this month, some European countries suspended the use of the vaccine for fear that it could increase the risk of blood clots in the recipient. Reuters reported that these countries have resumed using the vaccine and health officials have worked to ensure the public’s safety.
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Leaders in Europe and the UK signed up to try to build public confidence. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson received the injection on Friday and said he felt nothing.
The Washington Post reported that the United States “pre-ordered” 300 million doses of the vaccine. The vaccine is considered easy to store and cheap at $ 4 a dose, the newspaper said.
“This review validates the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as a much-needed additional vaccination option, offering confidence that adults of all ages can benefit from protection against the virus,” Ann Falsey, professor of medicine and co-principal investigator of the trial, he said.