LONDON: AstraZeneca, vaccine developed by Oxford University was 90 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19 after the testing of doses. It said on Monday, November 23 that the vaccine can be around 90 per cent effective without any serious side effects.
Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive, AstraZeneca, said in a statement that the efficiency and safety confirms that it will be highly effective against COVID-19 and will have immediate impact on health emergency. The Serum Institute of India is the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume and it has partnered with AstraZeneca, Gates Foundation and Gavi vaccine alliance. Together, they have aimed to produce more than a billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine for global supply.
Peter Horby, Professor, University of Oxford, said that most importantly this vaccine does not just prevent the disease but also the infection. This means that this can prevent people from the novel coronavirus as well as can protect them who are severely affected, he added. The vaccine can be stored in fridge rather than in a freezer as is the case with the other two contenders which makes it a better solution for wide use.