I have no doubt that this mutant strain is rapidly on it's way to becoming the predominant strain world wide.
Today,
the UK announced emergency approval for the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine. I haven't seen any clinical data more recent than the press release from a month ago. So, I'm curious what it looks like. But it is also possible that mounting public and political pressure in the UK played a role in an early decision.
I've heard nothing recent about Astra Zeneca's US-based clinical trial of it's vaccine. Will it be submitted to the FDA soon?
The Oxford vaccine is approved. It will rollout Monday. It will be a game changer. The Pfizer vaccine is unfortunately not practical for a mass vaccination campaign under the current circumstances. There has been significant waste everywhere, in the UK, Minnesota and especially Wisconsin. The arduous cold chain renders it impractical. I suspect that the Moderna vaccine will prove difficult also, as it needs thawing and rolling it out is difficult.
The Oxford vaccine is the first one fit for the task at hand. They did trials with the second dose delayed up to 90 days. Only two people got ill after receiving one dose and they were within 48 hours of receiving the first dose. So they already had the virus when injected. None of the others went to hospital or died. So essentially it is 100% effective. The vaccine only needs refrigeration, and even if not refrigerated is apparently stable for 6 to 8 weeks. It requires no dilution. It is vial to syringe to arm. So it is ideal for administration by people with minimal training (OJT). Unfortunately the US has ordered little of this vaccine, which will prove to be another miss step.
The UK want to rapidly crank up to 2 million jabs a week. I watched BOJO's news conference today, with Professor Jonathan Van Tam. This target is practical with the Oxford vaccine, but not the Pfizer one. So the design of the Oxford vaccine was correct from the start.
There is data that giving the Oxford vaccine doses spaced 90 days is at least as effective as a 28 day spacing. There is good data on that. So a 90 day spacing is the quickest route to herd immunity and will end the pandemic soonest.
Now the UK regulator has extrapolated the Oxford data to the Pfizer vaccine, and given approval for a 90 day dose spacing. So the UK will space both vaccines 90 days apart. This is not sanctioned by Pfizer, but the UK has ordered all vaccine doses be spaced by 90 days.
India will roll out the Oxford vaccine imminently. They say they have a billion doses and may be more in the pipeline. They will roll it out in India and the poorer nations imminently. The Oxford vaccine is about $3.50 per dose. I have thought from the beginning that it was the Oxford vaccine was the one most likely to bring the world back from the Abyss. I think that judgement will prove correct.
I think that Astra/Zenaka will apply for an EUA in the US in about 3 to 4 weeks. This can not come soon enough. I hope we are really ramping up production here.
The new UK strain is devastating, and the situation worsening by the day fast. Children do seem to be affected by this strain, with increased numbers of teenagers going to hospital. This is receiving attention. This new strain means we can not hang about. We need to move fast. I think the US should accept the work of the UK regulator now and get moving.
