Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine Master Thread

[Kobe Bryant]

The UK approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine as it battles a major winter surge driven by a new and highly contagious variant of the virus.

[AsherO]

The UK approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine as it battles a major winter surge driven by a new and highly contagious variant of the virus.

How far behind is the USA? And what are the realistic prospects for US supply of the AZN vaccine?

The way you (the headline?) phrases it, it made it sound like it was approved earlier than it would have been because of the new strain, is that so?

[AsherO]

Also, what’s the dosing regimen? Did they confirm that a half dose followed by a full dose one month later increases efficacy to 90%?

[AsherO]

Some answers:

https://observer.com/2020/12/astrazeneca-covid19-vaccine-approval-rollout/

Sounds like it’s close to being approved and the US has 300m doses on order. It doesn’t need to be deep-frozen like Pfizer/Moderna, so maybe the supply-chain will run smoother.

[AsherO]

My monologue continues. FDA not likely to issue EUA approval for AZN’s vaccine until they have data from the US trial, and that isn’t expected for at least a few weeks (mid-end of January).

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/02/astrazeneca-us-covid-19-vaccine-trial-results-likely-in-late-jan-says-health-official-.html

[AsherO]

Interesting qualification clause for blood donation

– *NEW* Have not received the AstraZeneca vaccine in the last 2 weeks.

Source: https://collive.com/wednesday-urgent-blood-and-plasma-drive/

[Kobe Bryant]

Danish health officials said they have temporarily halted the use of the Covid-19 vaccine made by AstraZeneca, as they and other European regulators investigate reports of severe blood clots in people who’ve received doses.

Denmark’s national health authority said it will pause use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, jointly developed with the University of Oxford, for at least two weeks. That includes a halt for people who have already had their first dose of the two-dose vaccine.

The U.K.'s medicines regulator urged people to continue receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, calling the Danish decision to suspend use of the shot a "precautionary measure." The U.K. regulator said there was no confirmation of a link between blood clotting and the vaccine.

[Ploni3]

Now Iceland and Norway and Italy (one batch) have joined Denmark...

[AsherO]

Danish health officials said they have temporarily halted the use of the Covid-19 vaccine made by AstraZeneca, as they and other European regulators investigate reports of severe blood clots in people who’ve received doses.

Denmark’s national health authority said it will pause use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, jointly developed with the University of Oxford, for at least two weeks. That includes a halt for people who have already had their first dose of the two-dose vaccine.

The U.K.'s medicines regulator urged people to continue receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, calling the Danish decision to suspend use of the shot a "precautionary measure." The U.K. regulator said there was no confirmation of a link between blood clotting and the vaccine.

Would like to see more data on this. Couldn’t figure out what % of U.K. population got the Pfizer vaccine, but it’s possible as many as 20m+ got the AZN vaccine...

[Kobe Bryant]

The Biden administration is considering sending some AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine doses stockpiled and waiting for official usage approval in the US over the border to Mexico and Canada, according to a senior administration official.

Intense discussions are taking place following a request for doses from both countries and, for Mexico at least, an agreement could be announced as soon as Friday, according to the Mexican Foreign Minister.

[AsherO]

The Biden administration is considering sending some AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine doses stockpiled and waiting for official usage approval in the US over the border to Mexico and Canada, according to a senior administration official.

Intense discussions are taking place following a request for doses from both countries and, for Mexico at least, an agreement could be announced as soon as Friday, according to the Mexican Foreign Minister.

Do US pharmaceutical companies typically produce drugs that aren’t approved domestically for foreign (approved) distribution?

[Kobe Bryant]

AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine provided strong protection against sickness and eliminated hospitalizations and deaths from the disease across all age groups in a late-stage study in the United States, the company announced Monday.

AstraZeneca said its experts did not identify any safety concerns related to the vaccine, including finding no increased risk of rare blood clots identified in Europe.

In a statement, AstraZeneca said its COVID-19 vaccine had a 79% efficacy rate at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and was 100% effective in stopping severe disease and hospitalization, though it has not yet published full data.

[AsherO]

AstraZeneca said its experts did not identify any safety concerns related to the vaccine, including finding no increased risk of rare blood clots identified in Europe.

If the issues are 1/100,000 or 1/300,000 then a clinical trial with 30,000 people could easily miss them.

With 50m+ (maybe even 100m) vaccinations using this vaccine and only a few dozen reported clotting cases, the clinical trials don't conclusively prove anything.

[Kobe Bryant]

German health officials agreed Tuesday to restrict the use of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine in people under 60, amid fresh concern over unusual blood clots reported in a tiny number of those who received the shots.

Health Minister Jens Spahn and state officials agreed unanimously to only give the vaccine to people aged 60 or older, unless they belong to a high-risk category for serious illness from COVID-19 and have agreed with their doctor to take the vaccine despite the small risk of a serious side-effect.

[AsherO]

German health officials agreed Tuesday to restrict the use of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine in people under 60, amid fresh concern over unusual blood clots reported in a tiny number of those who received the shots.

Health Minister Jens Spahn and state officials agreed unanimously to only give the vaccine to people aged 60 or older, unless they belong to a high-risk category for serious illness from COVID-19 and have agreed with their doctor to take the vaccine despite the small risk of a serious side-effect.

Odd wording, it’s being restricted to recipients under 60, or restricted for recipients under 60?

If it’s restricted for both under 60 and over 60 then what’s the difference between those age groups?

[Alexsei]

Quebeckers now have the choice to choose or refuse the AZ vaccine when booking their appointment

[S209]

Odd wording, it’s being restricted to recipients under 60, or restricted for recipients under 60?

If it’s restricted for both under 60 and over 60 then what’s the difference between those age groups?

Over 60, no restrictions. Under 60, restricted to those who’s underlying health concerns are serious enough that doctors feel the vaccine is important enough to brave the inherent (possible) risk.