A new study has found that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine provides 100% protection against severe illness and does not increase the risk of blood clots. The vaccine, developed jointly by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, was found to be more effective than previously thought in a study of 32,000 participants from the US, Peru, and Chile. Of those who received at least one dose of the vaccine, only 141 experienced symptomatic Covid-19 infections. The study showed that the vaccine provides complete protection against severe illness requiring hospitalization, regardless of age. The overall efficacy of the vaccine was found to be 79%.
The AstraZeneca vaccine, which uses a cold virus from monkeys as a carrier, does not require deep freezing like the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. This makes it ideal for use in regions with limited logistical capabilities. The vaccine was temporarily suspended in some countries, including Germany, due to concerns about an increased risk of blood clots. However, an independent expert group has determined that there are no safety concerns based on the newly published study data. The World Health Organization and the European Medicines Agency have also recommended the continued use of the vaccine.
Despite the positive study results, media reports of blood clots allegedly caused by the AstraZeneca vaccine have significantly reduced public confidence in its safety in Germany, Spain, France, and Italy. In Germany, 55% of respondents consider the vaccine unsafe, while in France, the figure is 61%. However, in the UK, where the vaccine has been widely used, most people consider it safe.
