Pfizer, AstraZeneca found effective against virus strain in India Coronavirus pandemic News

A new study says that both vaccines are very effective against the B1617.2 strain — first identified in India — after a second dose.

Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines have been shown to be highly effective against the first identified coronavirus variant in India, according to a study by Public Health England (PHE).

The Pfizer vaccine was 88 percent effective and the AstraZeneca jab was 60 percent effective against B1617.2 strain after the second dose.

Both vaccines were more effective against the strain called “Kent” – B.1.1.7, the predominant variant of COVID-19 in the UK – while Pfizer was 93 per cent effective, while the AstraZeneca jab was 66 per cent effective.

However, the first dose was taken and only 33 percent were effective at three weeks.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the result was “pioneering”, while PHE said it hoped for a higher level of effectiveness against hospitalization and death.

“This new evidence is groundbreaking and demonstrates how valuable our COVID-19 vaccination program is in protecting people we love,” Hancock said.

Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) duplicated B1617.2 filters the “variant of global concern”.

High level of protection

A study conducted from April 5 to May 16 found that both vaccines had a 33 percent efficacy against the symptomatic diseases of strain B1617.2 and three weeks after the first dose, about 50 percent against B.1.1. 7 tension.

About 12,675 cases sequenced in the genome were included in the analysis, but only 1,054 of the variant identified in India. The study from April 5 collected data from all age groups to cover the period when the tension was created.

New PHE data show that at least 2,889 cases were found in England from 1 February to 18 May this year in England.

Of these, 104 cases were for hospital emergency visits, 31 had to be hospitalized at night and six resulted in death.

According to the data, the most common strain in England is variant B.1.1.7, with 132,082 cases recorded simultaneously. The virus has infected 4.46 million people and killed 128,000 people in the UK last year.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunization at PHE, added: “This study provides assurance that two doses of both vaccines offer a high level of protection against symptomatic disease from variant B1617.2.

“We hope that hospitalization and hospitalization will be even more effective in preventing death; so it is essential to get both doses to get maximum protection against all existing and emerging variants.”

The fastest vaccination program in Europe

A separate study by PHE indicates that the vaccination program has so far prevented around 13,000 deaths and around 39,100 hospitalizations in older people in England by 9 May.

According to the government’s plans, the removal of the remaining coronavirus restrictions will take effect from June 21st.

Recent data show that more than 50 million coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered in the UK’s fastest-growing vaccine program to date, but it has faced a new challenge as a result of the spread of the variant found in India.

Data released on Saturday showed that new COVID cases reported in the UK rose 10.5% in the seven days to 22 May, although some of the levels seen earlier this year remained.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson this month ordered the administration of doses of the second vaccine to people over the age of 50 and those who are clinically vulnerable.

Concerns about cases of the variant found in India for the first time in Britain say Germany will have to put anyone entering the UK on Friday and put them in quarantine for fifty days.