AstraZeneca Revises Coronavirus Vaccine Efficacy Rate Downward
Still, the company reports the vaccine remains highly effective at preventing symptomatic disease and 100% effective against stopping severe disease and hospitalizations.
ASTRAZENECA LATE Wednesday released revised data from its U.S. vaccine trial that showed a slightly lower efficacy rate than the company touted just days before following pressure from health officials.
The drugmaker announced that its vaccine is 76% effective at preventing symptomatic disease after including additional cases. But on Monday, the company said an interim analysis showed a 79% efficacy. Health officials took issue with the earlier press release, saying it could have relied on "outdated information."
[ READ: Health Officials Question AstraZeneca’s Coronavirus Vaccine Trial Data ]
The updated report maintains that the vaccine is 100% effective against stopping severe disease and hospitalizations.
The most recent information "confirms that our COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective in adults, including those aged 65 years and over," AstraZeneca research chief Mene Pangalos said in a statement.
Leading infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci has called the situation "unfortunate" and said it was likely due to an unforced error.
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"This kind of thing does ... really cast some doubt about the vaccines and maybe contribute to the hesitancy," Fauci told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Tuesday. "It was not necessary."
It's unclear what lasting effects the squabble could have on trust in AstraZeneca's vaccine. The shot has faced several hurdles already, including a lower efficacy rate than rival vaccines in earlier trials along with a lack of data on older populations that led countries to question its use in people 65 years and older. More recently, the vaccine faced concerns over blood clots, which forced the European Medicine Agency to issue a review finding the vaccine safe and effective.
But at least one country still has doubts about the vaccine. Denmark officials on Thursday said they would extend the suspension of the vaccine by three weeks to further look into the blood clot concerns.
Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder, Staff Writer
Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder writes about space, science and the environment for U.S. News & ... READ MORE
Tags: coronavirus, vaccines, AstraZeneca