The lead developer of the COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, Professor Andrew Pollard, questioned the drug’s ability to protect everyone from coronavirusreports RIA Novosti .
According to him, the results of three of the candidate vaccines planned for purchase by Britain show that they can stop hospitalizations and severe disease. However, it is much more difficult for them to prevent the course of the disease in a mild form. “It is likely that none of the vaccines will protect everyone,” Pollard said, adding that the drugs could reduce the severity of symptoms in those infected with the coronavirus.
Speaking about whether the vaccines being developed are adapted to a possible mutation of the virus, the specialist explained that scientists need more time to adapt drugs to new strains of infection.
Earlier, representatives of AstraZeneca told that an interim analysis of vaccine clinical trials showed an average efficiency of 70 percent. Studies also found that protection against COVID-19 appears 14 days after receiving two doses of the vaccine.