AstraZeneca released new data on Wednesday on its COVID-19 vaccine – which, according to the company, shows a 76 percent effectiveness rate in preventing symptomatic coronavirus cases.
The data release is the latest back-and-forth with US regulators, who have accused the London-based pharmaceutical company of “choosing” the data to make it look like the injection was more effective.
On Monday, AstraZeneca claimed an 79 percent effectiveness rate, but the next day an independent panel overseeing the study wrote a letter to US health officials saying the company omitted some symptomatic cases of COVID-19 that occurred – a measure they said had the potential to undermine public confidence in the vaccine.
After public criticism, AstraZeneca said the data was based on a “pre-specified interim analysis” and agreed to release an updated report.
“This is really what you call an unforced error, because the fact is that it is most likely a very good vaccine,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci in “Good Morning America” Tuesday. “That kind of thing really… casts some doubts about vaccines and maybe contributes to hesitation. It was not necessary. “
The information released on Wednesday, however, “confirms that our COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective in adults, including those 65 and older,” said the company’s head of research, Mene Pangalos.
AstaZeneca hoped to regain confidence after a difficult implementation in Europe – which left the company with inconsistent data – as well as a scare due to several major cases of patients who developed blood clots after receiving the injection.
AstaZeneca also said it intends to seek FDA emergency use authorization for the vaccine within a few weeks.
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