Moscow [Russia], 10 February (ANI / Sputnik): The World Health Organization (SAGE) Strategic Advisory Group said on Wednesday that the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine at AstraZeneca / Oxford University outweigh the potential risks there.
“The data reviewed by WHO supports the conclusion that the known and potential benefits of AZD1222 outweigh the known and potential risk. , “SAGE said in a set of interim recommendations.
Citing test data taken from studies in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil that saw participants receive two standard doses, SAGE said the AstraZeneca vaccine showed an efficacy of 63.09 hundred.
SAGE also recommends that the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine be given at intervals of eight to 12 weeks between shots, and the experts seemed to think that the vaccine seems safe for people aged 65 and over.
“Immune responses induced by the vaccine in the elderly are well documented and similar to those in other age groups. This indicates that the vaccine is likely to be effective in the elderly. The test data is that the vaccine is safe for this age group, “the expert group said.
In addition, SAGE noted recent studies that have suggested that the AstraZeneca vaccine is less effective against new COVID-19 strains, but still recommended the vaccine for use in countries, such as South Africa, where new series are spreading.
“With this, WHO is currently recommending the use of the AZD1222 vaccine … even though there are changes in a country,” SAGE said.
At a press conference following the publication of SAGE’s interim recommendations, Kate O’Brien, director of the WHO Division of Vaccination, Vaccines and Biology, said it was worthwhile for older adults with the AstraZeneca vaccine, even if efficiency could fall to as low as 10 percent, as suggested by German newspapers in late January.
“Modeling data has shown that, even when speculative efficacy falls to as low as 10 per cent, it is still the right thing to do to vaccinate older adults with low-efficacy vaccines because of the high risk of disease and mortality in the community. that age. group, “O’Brien said.
The WHO has identified the AstraZeneca vaccine for use in the COVAX facility, the global COVID-19 vaccine distribution campaign, and the group’s lead scientist Soumya Swaminathan hoped the vaccine could be listed as an emergency use ” very quickly. ”A week ago, the COVAX facility said it plans to distribute nearly 350 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, of which 240 million are expected to be administered by the Serum Institute of India, in the first half of 2021. (ANI / Sputnik)