Posted on: Tue 29-12-2020

All is now set for the United Kingdom to approve a COVID-19 Vaccine that drugmakers AstraZeneca says would be effective in fending off the new variant of the coronavirus spreading around the world. According to Pascal soriot, AstraZeneca chief exuctive, the vaccine is as effective as the 95 percent success rate touted by rival drug developers. However, concerns have been raised over preliminary partial test results that suggest that the AstraZeneca shot is only about 70 percent effective for preventing COVID-19.

 

The major advantage to the AstraZeneca vaccine is that it is easier to transport and store which is vital to fighting surging infection rates. Its being touted that the vaccine could be approved by British drug regulators this week and made available to the public in the first week of January

 

“We think we have figured out the winning formula and how to get efficacy that, after two doses, is up there with everybody else,” Soriot said. “I can’t tell you more because we will publish at some point.”

 

In regards to the vaccine’s efficacy against the new UK mutation, Soriot told the Times: “So far, we think the vaccine should remain effective. But we can’t be sure, so we’re going to test that.”

 

Hospitals in the UK are increasingly strained as the country recorded more than 30,000 positive COVID-19 tests and 316 deaths from the virus on Sunday, bringing its death toll to 70,752.

---

---