U.S. Poised to Approve 4th Coronavirus Vaccine - AstraZeneca

U.S. Poised to Approve 4th Coronavirus Vaccine - AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine was shown to be safe and 79% effective in preventing symptomatic disease in U.S. clinical trials involving more than 32,000 people, the U.K. drugmaker said Monday.

The company said it would continue to analyze the data and prepare to request an emergency use authorization (EUA) in the U.S. in coming weeks, a move that—if approved—would make the vaccine America’s fourth behind Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.

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Ann Falsey, Professor of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, US, and co-lead Principal Investigator for the trial, said: “These findings reconfirm previous results observed in AZD1222 trials across all adult populations but it’s exciting to see similar efficacy results in people over 65 for the first time. This analysis 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.”

The AstraZeneca vaccine is already widely used outside the U.S. 

The EUA could be approved before mid-April.

AstraZeneca in Europe

Recently, a number of European countries suspended the use of the vaccine following questions about its efficacy and serious blood-clotting issues in a very small number of people in Europe who received the shot.

The European Union’s medical boards then reaffirmed the efficacy of the vaccine.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) reaffirmed the benefits of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca continue to far outweigh the risks.

Late last week, the MHRA announced their review of the small number of thromboembolic events in over 11 million people who received COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca in the UK. 

The agency urged that people should continue to get vaccinated.

Following the rigorous scientific review, the MHRA concluded there is no evidence that blood clots in veins are occurring more than would be expected in the absence of vaccination. 

The U.S. trials identified no increased risk of serious blood clotting.

 

Rhode Island Vaccinations 

In Rhode Island, 14.8% of the population are fully vaccinated and 28.9% have received one dosage.

Rhode Island has now jumped to second in the country for most cases per 100,000 population, according to Covid ActNow. Only New Jersey is ahead of RI.