AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine candidate shows promise among elderly in trials

‘A potential Covid-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University produced a strong immune response in older adults, giving hope it may protect some of those most vulnerable to the disease, data from mid-stage trials showed. The data, reported in part last month but published in full in The Lancet medical journal on Thursday (Nov 19), suggest that those aged over 70 - who are at higher risk of serious illness and death from Covid-19 - could build robust immunity to the disease, researchers said.

"The robust antibody and T-cell responses seen in older people in our study are encouraging," said Dr Maheshi Ramasamy, a consultant and a co-lead investigator at the Oxford Vaccine Group.’

Read here (Straits Times, Nov 20, 2020)

AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine study put on hold due to suspected adverse reaction in participant in the UK

‘A large, Phase 3 study testing a Covid-19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford at dozens of sites across the U.S. has been put on hold due to a suspected serious adverse reaction in a participant in the United Kingdom. A spokesperson for AstraZeneca, a frontrunner in the race for a Covid-19 vaccine, said in a statement that the company’s “standard review process triggered a pause to vaccination to allow review of safety data.” 

Read here (STAT News, Sept 8, 2020)