AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine slated to become fourth available
A fourth COVID-19 vaccine may be on the horizon.
AstraZeneca’s two-dose vaccine is used in 70 countries around the world, including Great Britain.
On Monday, AstraZeneca announced its vaccine is 79% effective.
MercyOne infectious disease specialist Dr. Jeff Brock said he is encouraged by the vaccine’s development.
“Anything we can do to increase the supply to the market is good as long as the vaccines are safe and effective,” Brock said.
The vaccination hit a snag in Europe after studies showed a slight risk of blood clots. Further testing determined that blood clotting is rare.
WHO General Director Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the vaccine is safe to use.
“In this case, there is no question,” Ghebreyesus said. “COVID-19 is a deadly disease, and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine can prevent it.”
The AstraZeneca vaccines show a 79% effective rate for preventing COVID-19. Brock said that, with FDA approval, it could help vaccinate millions of people much faster by adding it to the list of other approved vaccines.
“All these vaccines are highly effective at inhibiting severe disease and hospitalizations, and that's the key point where we really want to stress is they're effective at keeping you out of the hospital and dying,” Brock said.
AstraZeneca will submit for vaccine approval from the FDA in April.