LONDON – New UK evidence shows Covid-19 vaccines drastically reduce serious illness and death in the elderly after a single dose, bolstering optimism that successful vaccination programs offer a return to economic growth this year after a year of widespread blockades.
Real-world data that vaccinate a larger proportion of its population than any other major Western economy also supports the UK government’s strategy of extending the limited supply of vaccines by delaying a second vaccine until 12 weeks later. of the former to protect more people from disease.
British researchers said in preliminary findings published online Monday that a single dose of Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE or Oxford University and AstraZeneca PLC reduced the risk of hospitalization of people over 70 by 80%, compared to those of a similar age who were not vaccinated.
The study adds to evidence from around the world that vaccines are, in general, as effective in the real world as they were shown to be in clinical trials, giving hope that mass deployments can reduce the need for restrictive measures. public health and pave the way for reopening.
“We hope it will take us to a very different world in the coming months,” England Deputy Medical Director Jonathan Van-Tam said on Monday, referring to vaccination.