Astra, South African mutation 10% effect… “No difference from the placebo group”

The researchers said that the COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed by multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Oxford University in the UK showed only 10% of the preventive effect against the mutant virus (E484K) spread in South Africa. These are the results of small-scale clinical trials conducted by Oxford University and South Africa’s University of Bittersland.

In an interview with BBC Radio on the 8th (local time), Professor Xavir Maddi, who led the test, said, “The effect of preventing mutations in South Africa was about 10%.” Appeared,” he explained.

The limit was pointed out that the clinical trial was conducted in about 2,000 people, and it was conducted in a young and healthy group with a small test size and a median age of 31 years.

“Initially, this trial was designed to ensure that the AstraZeneca vaccine could provide at least 60% of the protective effect against the South African mutation,” said Professor Shavir. According to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccines must show at least 50% prophylactic effect.

Professor Shabir predicted, “Even if the scale is expanded and tested again, the effect will be difficult to come out at 40-50%.” “What this test tells us is that the vaccine does not protect against mild to moderate infections in a young population with few underlying diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes.”

As a result of this test, 39 people were infected with the South African mutant virus. Nearly half of them received the AstraZeneca vaccine in 19 and 20 with placebo. The total number of people receiving the vaccine and placebo was similar, 748 and 714, respectively. The New York Times (NYT) commented that “there is virtually no difference in the preventive effect (of the vaccine versus placebo),” and the British Daily Guardian said it was “virtually ineffective.”

The Guardian compared the effectiveness of AstraZeneca and Pfizer-Bioentech vaccines. According to the results reported in the international journal Nature Medicine, the Pfizer vaccine was an average of 81% effective against the South African mutant virus. Considering that 95% of the existing viruses were prevented, the effect was somewhat inferior, but the newspaper commented that it has the ability to protect against mutant viruses.

Professor Xavir added, “If we apply the test results of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine, which uses a technology similar to AstraZeneca, we hope that the AstraZeneca vaccine will be effective in preventing severe outbreaks at other ages.” .

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was still “very confident” about the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine. “I’m very confident about all of the vaccines we use, and I think it’s important that the vaccines are effective in providing a high level of protection against serious illness and death,” he visited the vaccine lab in Derby that day.

AstraZeneca will develop an additional vaccine against the mutant virus and release it as early as this fall. The British government has planned to provide an additional vaccine in the fall that is effective against the mutant virus. This means that the nationals who have completed the second vaccination in the first half will also receive the third vaccination. Health Minister Matt Hancock said at a briefing that afternoon, “We have a facility in the UK that produces vaccines against mutations.”

Meanwhile, in France, which has raised limited doubts about the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine, a voice came out recommending the AstraZeneca vaccination.

France’s Health Minister Olivier Berand (44) said, “In France, the AstraZeneca vaccine can protect you from almost all Corona 19 viruses.” “There is no need to worry that AstraZeneca vaccine is less effective in preventing mutations in South Africa, as 99% of the virus spreading in our territory does not correspond to mutations originating in South Africa,” he added.

Earlier, the French government issued a recommendation not to get AstraZeneca vaccines to those over 65 years old. This is because the test data for this age group are insufficient. He delivered a message to the public that the AstraZeneca vaccine would not have any problem, unless it is a problem for the age group over 65 or mutation in South Africa.

Reporter Jeong Eun-hye [email protected]