LONDON – The vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca PLC is effective against a highly transmitted new variant of the virus that causes Covid-19, according to an analysis that provides further assurance that a global vaccination process will cure the pandemic help end.
Yet the small-scale study showed that the vaccine works better against older, more established versions of the virus, which has so far been linked to nearly 2.3 million deaths worldwide and more than 100 million cases.
In a study published Friday, researchers examined blood samples from about 256 participants in an ongoing clinical trial of the vaccine that tested positive for Covid-19. The findings are preliminary and have not been formally reviewed by other scientists.
With genetic sequencing, they were able to determine which participants were infected with the new variant and who had an older version. The new variant had a little less than a third.
The British Coronavirus variant
By testing antibody levels and other markers of immune system activity against the virus, the researchers found that in 75% of cases, the vaccine elicits an effective immune response against the new variant, showing symptoms of infection, and in about two-thirds of cases. those who did not have symptoms were also included.
For those with the older strain, the vaccine was effective in 84% of symptomatic cases and 81% of all cases.
The researchers reported that antibody response differs greatly between the two groups, saying antibodies induced by the vaccine are up to nine times less effective at neutralizing the new variant than old ones. The overall protection was similar, but it suggests that other parts of the immune system play a key role, the study said.
“The effectiveness of vaccine has been maintained against the new variant,” the researchers said.
The emergence of more contagious variants of the virus has propelled new waves of infections in different parts of the world, and that the virus is able to evade vaccines that are now being rolled out all over the world.
The latest findings from Oxford and AstraZeneca contribute to signs that this is not the case for now. Pfizer Inc.
in Modern Inc.
According to them, the vaccine is also effective against new variants, with reference to similar laboratory tests.
As new coronavirus variants sweep across the globe, scientists are rushing to understand how dangerous they can be. WSJ explains. Illustration: Alex Kuzoian / WSJ
Write to Jason Douglas by [email protected]
Copyright © 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8