US study: The AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective

The AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective, according to a comprehensive US study.

More than 32,000 people have participated in the study, mainly in the United States, Chile, and Peru, the BBC reports.

The study shows that the vaccine has 79% effectiveness against developing a symptomatic course of the disease and 100% effectiveness against serious illness, the company wrote in a press release.

Under scrutiny

The AstraZeneca vaccine has been under scrutiny lately due to uncertainty as to whether it may increase the risk of severe blood clots. 

Several European countries, including Norway and Denmark, put the use of the vaccine on hold while possible links were investigated.

The press release states that the independent research panel DSMB found “no safety problems associated with the vaccine.”

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have also previously emphasized that the vaccine is safe to use.

Elderly

It has also been unclear whether the AstraZeneca vaccine provides equally good protection in people over 65.

The new study’s findings, where around 20% of the participants were over 65 years old, do not indicate that the vaccine provides poorer protection in the elderly.

“The analysis confirms AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine is a much-needed vaccine option, and it gives reason to have confidence that adults of all ages will benefit from protection against the virus,” Ann Falsey, a professor of medicine at the University of Rochester, said. 

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

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