Islamophobia threatens global peace and coexistence, not just Muslims, says MWL chief at UN    Power bank likely caused South Korea plane fire, investigators say    Gold prices hit $3,000 for the first time as investors push the panic button    Hungary drops veto and agrees to prolong EU sanctions on Russian individuals    China hits out at 'threats of force' on Iran as Trump pushes for new nuclear deal    Makkah Lanterns Festival returns for the eighth year as part of Ramadan activities    Crown Prince receives Yazeed Al-Rajhi after historic Dakar Rally 2025 victory    SR17 million fines slapped on 16 individuals and companies convicted of violating Capital Market Law    Saudi Arabia welcomes border agreement between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan    Saudi ambassadors take oath before Crown Prince    16 endangered species released into AlUla's Protected Areas    Saudi Crown Prince reaffirms support for a political solution to Ukraine crisis in call with Putin Putin praises Saudi Arabia's constructive role and mediation efforts    NCM forecast: Thunderstorms to hit most Saudi regions until Monday    Saleh Al-Shehri's late penalty rescues Al Ittihad against Al Riyadh    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Man lives for 100 days with titanium heart in successful new trial    Argentinian court begins trial of seven healthcare professionals over Maradona's death    Al Hilal crushes Pakhtakor to storm into AFC Champions League quarter-finals    Singer Wheesung who wooed Korea with his ballads, found dead at 43    Prince Frederik of Luxembourg dies from rare disease    Real-life shipwreck story wins major book award    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



AstraZeneca has a 'winning formula' to boost COVID vaccine's efficacy: Soriot
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 28 - 12 - 2020

The British pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca said it had found "the winning formula" to improve its COVID-19 vaccine developed with Oxford University.
The British laboratory announced in November that its vaccine was on average 70 percent effective in clinical trials compared with more than 90 percent for vaccines by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, which have both been already authorized for use in several countries.
The interim clinical trial results showed large differences in the data because of two different protocols: the efficacy was 90 percent for volunteers who first received a half dose and then a full dose one month later, but only 62 percent for another group vaccinated with two full doses.
The results had been criticized because the injection of a half-dose was due to an error and a relatively small group had followed this protocol. The company then announced that its vaccine required "an additional study".
But Pascal Soriot, chief executive of AstraZeneca, assured that the company's vaccine provided "100% protection" against severe forms of COVID-19, telling the Sunday Times newspaper: "We think we have figured out the winning formula and how to get efficacy that, after two doses, is up there with everybody else".
He added: "I can't tell you more because we will publish at some point".
The Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine is eagerly awaited in the UK because it is relatively inexpensive and can be stored in conventional freezers, unlike the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which must be stored at -70 degrees.
This makes it easier to vaccinate on a large scale as well as in retirement homes.
The UK, the first Western country to authorize the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for distribution in early December, is counting on this second vaccine to gain momentum and stop the surge in cases attributed to a new variant of the coronavirus on its soil.
"For the time being, we believe that the vaccine should remain effective" against the new variant, Soriot said. "But we can't be sure, so we're going to test it".
He assured that new versions were being prepared just in case, while hoping not to need them: "You have to be prepared".
The UK government announced on Wednesday that it had submitted full data on the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine to the UK regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
According to the British press, the MHRA is due to make a decision in the next few days with a view to injecting the vaccine from Jan. 4 onwards.
The UK has ordered 100 million doses of Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine, 40 million doses of which are due to be available by the end of March.
In all, the UK government has ensured access to more than 350 million doses by the end of next year, by sourcing from seven manufacturers during the clinical trial phase.
In total, more than 600,000 people have already received a first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
The success of the current campaign in the UK is all the more crucial as the country, one of the most affected by the pandemic with more than 70,000 deaths, is seeing a resurgence of the virus. — Euronews


Clic here to read the story from its source.