AstraZeneca on Wednesday released new data on its COVID-19 vaccine, which according to the company shows an efficiency rate of 76% in the prevention of symptomatic cases of coronavirus.
The release of data is the latest salvation to come and go with U.S. regulators, who accused the London-based pharmaceutical company of “cherry picking” data to make it appear that the shooting was more effective.
On Monday, AstraZeneca claimed an effectiveness rate of 79%, but the next day an independent group overseeing the study wrote a letter to U.S. health officials saying the company had omitted some symptomatic cases of COVID-19 that s ‘had produced, potential to erode public confidence in the vaccine.
Following criticism from the public, AstraZeneca said the data was based on a “pre-specified interim analysis” and agreed to publish an updated report.
“This is really what you call an unforced error because the fact is that it’s very likely to be a very good vaccine,” Dr. Anthony Fauci told Tuesday’s “Good Morning America.” “That kind of thing does really make vaccines questionable and maybe contribute to hesitation. It wasn’t necessary.”
Meanwhile, information released Wednesday “confirms that our COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective in adults, including those over 65,” said the company’s head of research, Mene Pangalos.
AstaZeneca hoped to regain confidence after a tough deployment in Europe (which left the company with inconsistent data), as well as a fright from several high-profile cases of patients who developed blood clots after receiving the puncture.
AstaZeneca also said it intends to apply for FDA emergency use authorization for the vaccine in a few weeks.
With publishing cables