"AstraZeneca First Dose Provides 76% Protection for 3 Months"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] It has been found that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine provides 76% protection for three months after the first dose.

On the 2nd (local time), according to the UK Guardian, BBC, and others, a clinical trial conducted by Oxford University involving 17,000 adults aged 18 to 55 in the UK, Brazil, and South Africa showed these results. The paper has not yet undergone peer review.

The study found that the AstraZeneca vaccine showed effectiveness from the 22nd day after the first dose up to the 90th day.

If the second dose is administered 12 weeks after the first dose, the effectiveness increased to 82.4%. However, if the interval between doses was set to less than 6 weeks, the effectiveness was only 54.9%.

This study is expected to provide evidence for extending the interval between COVID-19 vaccine doses. Currently, the second dose is usually given 3 to 4 weeks after the first dose.

The UK government faced controversy for extending the dosing interval to provide vaccination benefits to as many people as possible. Professor Andrew Pollard of Oxford University, who led the clinical trial, stated, "I support the UK government's guideline to extend the dosing interval from 4 weeks to up to 12 weeks."

Following Germany, Italy, and Sweden, France also decided on the same day to recommend the AstraZeneca vaccine only for those under 65 years old. The paper did not contain data supporting efficacy in the elderly population.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.