RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Preliminary data from a study conducted at the University of Oxford indicate that the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca PLC is effective against the P1, or a Brazilian variant, a source with knowledge of the study, told Reuters. Friday.
The data indicate that the vaccine does not need to be modified to protect against the variant, which presumably originated in the Amazon city of Manaus, the source said, requesting anonymity as the results have not yet been released. is not.
The source did not provide the exact efficacy of the vaccine against the variant. They said the full results of the study should be announced soon, possibly in March.
Early results indicated that the AstraZeneca vaccine is less effective against the South African variant, which is similar to P1. Subsequently, South Africa interrupted the use of the vaccine in the country.
The information comes from a small-sample study that suggests the COVID-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac will not work effectively against the Brazilian variant.
Asked for comment, Fiocruz, who sent the samples that formed the basis of the study, told Reuters he had no information about the study as it was led by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford.
Representatives of AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Brazil is currently facing a brutal and prolonged second wave of coronavirus and reached a daily record of 1,910 deaths on Wednesday.
The P1 variant is one of the factors contributing to an increase in cases and deaths, according to epidemiologists, and there is concern in the scientific community about vaccine resistance.
Reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier; Written by Gram Slattery; Edited by Hugh Lawson