Germany confesses was incorrect to state Oxford vaccine is just 8% efficient

26/01/2021

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Scientists have actually blasted an idea that the AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid vaccine is just 8% efficient in the over-65s.

The ‘completely incorrect’ figure was reported in the German media, which declared unnamed Government sources had ‘confirmed’ the news.

However, the German Health Ministry later on stated the 8% figure in fact describes the variety of individuals in an AstraZeneca research study aged in between 56 and 69.

Vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi stated the report was ‘complete nonsense’, verifying that the Oxford vaccine deals ‘almost 100% protection from severe infection’.

Journalists at Handelsblatt and Bild made a significant mistake, Politico reports.

A stage 3 Lancet research study released in December by AstraZeneca and Oxford University stated older age had actually been hired later on into the research study so ‘efficacy data in these cohorts are currently limited by the small number of cases, but additional data will be available in future analyses’.

Only 12% of individuals were aged over 55 in this specific analysis, although more information has actually been collected ever since.

Previous work released in November discovered any age groups, consisting of the over 65s, had an immune reaction to the jab after 2 dosages.

An Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is prepared at the Al-Abbas Islamic Centre, which has been converted into a temporary vaccination centre in Birmingham, central England on January 21, 2021. (Photo by DARREN STAPLES / AFP) (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images) — An Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is prepared at the Al-Abbas Islamic Centre, which has actually been transformed into a short-lived vaccination centre in Birmingham (Picture: AFP through Getty Images)

A representative for AstraZeneca has actually called German reports ‘completely incorrect’.

He stated: ‘Reports that the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine effectiveness is as low as 8% in grownups over 65 years are totally inaccurate.

‘In the UK, the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) supported usage in this population and MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare items Regulatory Agency) included this group without dosage modification in the authorisation for emergency situation supply.

‘In November, we published data in The Lancet demonstrating that older adults showed strong immune responses to the vaccine, with 100% of older adults generating spike-specific antibodies after the second dose.’

A declaration today by the German health ministry, seen by the Financial Times, stated: ‘At very first glimpse it appears that the [newspaper] reports have actually blended 2 things: about 8 percent of those checked in the AstraZeneca effectiveness research study were in between 56 and 69, just 3-4 percent over 70 (MHRA Approval Public Assessment Report).’

Meanwhile, vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi informed Good Morning Britain, he can ‘reassure the over-65s in this country that that (8% efficacy) is not the case’.

He stated: ‘We don’t understand where this dubious report originates from, it’s not real. This 8% figure is totally rubbish.

‘So, I would absolutely rely on the JCVI of the United Kingdom and…one of the best regulators in the world the MHRA in terms of efficacy.’