Oxford vaccine prompts an immune response in elderly
In a series of unfortunate events, also known as the year 2020, one can find a little silver lining in scientists’ efforts to battle the ongoing pandemic. Though might be old news, the coronavirus is still wreaking havoc on everything that comes within its way. Furthermore, with more than 1.17M deaths around the world, a need for a vaccine is still more than essential. Thus, Oxford is taking the lead now in the race for vaccines with new promising discoveries.
The experimental COVID-19 vaccine
The University of Oxford has been developing this vaccine since January in the United Kingdom. The vaccine specializes in producing an immune response in both younger and older adults. Moreover, the British drugmaker AstraZeneca stated that the vaccine is “raising hopes in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.”
“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.
“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.
Though AstraZeneca did not provide the details of the data behind the statement, this vaccine is still expected to be one of the first from big pharma to secure regulatory approval. Moreover, when asked if some people could receive a vaccine this year, the British Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC that he” don’t rule that out but that is not my central expectation.”He also added that “The program is progressing well [but] we’re not there yet.”
A promising robust in the immune response
According to early trial results published in the medical journal The Lancet in July, the vaccine generated “robust immune responses” in a group of healthy adults aged between 18 and 55. The AZD1222 or ChAdOx1nCoV-19, also known as the oxford vaccine, didn’t reveal any serious side effects within the tested group.
Furthermore, the data concerning trial 3 will soon be published in a clinical journal. AstraZeneca has also signed several manufacturing deals with companies and governments around the world.
“I would expect the bulk of the rollout to be in the first half of next year,” Hancock also told the BBC. Moreover, he did not rule out the possibility that some people could receive a shot this year.
“We want to be ready in case everything goes perfectly but it’s not my central expectation that we’ll be doing that this year, but the program is progressing well, we’re not there yet,” he said.
Additionally, the Sun newspaper reported on Monday that the staff at a hospital in the capital are on standby to receive the first batches of the vaccine, as early as the week beginning November 2. According to the same newspaper, all clinical trials at the unidentified hospital have been paused in order to pool all the resources on the vaccine. They are now preparing to vaccinate thousands of doctors, nurses, and other front-line workers there.
In brief, the nightmare, known as the coronavirus, will soon finally be over. About a dozen vaccines, including the Oxford vaccine, have already reached phase-three trials. Thus, the possibility of several vaccines rolling out simultaneously within the next year is huge. Finger crossed, soon the world will regain some of its boring normalcy.
References:
Al Jazeera. (2020, October 26). Oxford vaccine prompts an immune response in the elderly: AstraZeneca. United Kingdom | Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/26/oxford-vaccine-prompts-immune-response-in-old-people-astrazenecaFaulconbridge, G. K. K. (2020, October 26). Vaccine hopes rise as Oxford jab prompts immune response among old as well as young adults. U.S. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-astrazeneca-vaccine/vaccine-hopes-rise-as-oxford-jab-prompts-immune-response-among-old-as-well-as-young-adults-idUSKBN27B0J1India.com News Desk. (2020, October 26). Oxford Covid-19 Vaccine Prompts Immune Response in Both Young Adults & Elderly: AstraZeneca. India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News | India.Com. https://www.india.com/news/world/oxford-covid-19-vaccine-prompts-immune-response-in-both-young-adults-elderly-astrazeneca-4186640/Steinbuch, Y. (2020, October 26). Oxford COVID-19 vaccine prompts immune response among young, elderly adults. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2020/10/26/oxford-covid-19-vaccine-prompts-immune-response-among-young-elderly/
