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“It is encouraging to see immunogenicity responses were similar between older and younger adults and that reactogenicity was lower in older adults, where the COVID-19 disease severity is higher,” an AstraZeneca spokesman said according to a Reuters report. “The results further build the body of evidence for the safety and immunogenicity of AZD1222,” the spokesman said, referring to the technical name of the vaccine.
Hopes have risen after the vaccine showed a response in the elderly as the immune system weakens with age and older people are those most at risk of dying from the virus.
Latest updates on vaccine
- According to a report by UK-based The Sun newspaper a major London hospital trust has been told to be ready to receive the first batches of the COVID-19 vaccine being trialled by Oxford University and AstraZeneca by early next month. The report also said that a Covid-19 vaccine will only be deployed once it has been proven to be safe and effective through robust clinical trials and approved for use by the independent regulator, it said.
- In September, the company had to put a hold on the vaccine trials as a volunteer fell ill. They resumed testing after confirmation by the Medicines Health Regulatory Authority (MHRA).
- Last week, during the clinical trial, a volunteer from Brazil died according to the Brazilian Health Authority Anvisa leading a probe although the regulator said testing of the vaccine would continue after the volunteer's death.
- In India, Serum Institute of India is conducting the trials AstraZenca but later recommenced the trials after getting a green signal from the DGCI to restart the re-enrollment procedure for the COVID-19 following the recommendations made by Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB).
- Though the vaccine is not ready yet, British Health Secretary Matt Hancock is preparing logistics for a possible roll-out mostly in the first half of 2021.