The AstraZeneca vaccine is 79% effective against Covid-19 in the elderly and does not increase the risk of blood clots, the laboratory said on Monday March 22.

The efficacy would be valid at 79% to prevent symptomatic Covid-19 in the general population and at 100% to prevent severe forms of the disease and hospitalization, according to the laboratory, after phase III clinical trials conducted in the States United, with 32,449 participants. 

It is 80% effective in the elderly and does not increase the risk of blood clots, according to the laboratory, while several countries have given up on prescribing it to the elderly due to a lack of data on the elderly during the previous tests. 

Reassure European public opinion

This month, several countries suspended its use over fears it could cause blood clots, sometimes fatal.

The trials did not find an increased risk of thrombosis among participants who received at least one dose, according to the release. 

AstraZeneca is trying to reassure European public opinion unfavorable to the vaccine.

It is perceived as more dangerous than safe in Germany, France, Spain and Italy, according to an opinion study carried out between March 12 and 18.

The use of this vaccine is however crucial as the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic accelerates, especially in Europe, where Germany is considering new restrictions.

Thursday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), moreover, judged it "safe and effective" and the use resumed in several countries, but the impact on public opinion was felt, underlines the YouGov Institute.

"Not only have we seen a dramatic increase in the number of people who consider it unsafe over the past two weeks in Europe, but the AstraZeneca vaccine continues to be viewed as significantly less safe than those from Pfizer and Moderna," YouGov commented. , in a press release.

With the vaccination campaigns, Europeans could achieve collective immunity in July, suggested Sunday the European Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton.

It is also necessary to have sufficient stocks, while the British and Europeans accuse each other of capturing the doses produced on their territory.

Only 10% of the doses were delivered by the laboratory

British Defense Minister Ben Wallace warned on Sunday that it would be "counterproductive" to block AstraZeneca's exports, as the European Commission threatened the day before if the EU did not receive its deliveries first.

"The Commission has its own contract with AstraZeneca. We are just trying to enforce it. The laboratory has delivered less than 10% of the doses foreseen for the year by the contract. It is therefore normal that we ask for these doses to be delivered. as expected for Europeans ", retorted Sunday evening a source in the entourage of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. 

Ursula van der Leyen recalled that the EU contract with AstraZeneca provided for the delivery of doses produced both on EU territory and in the UK.

"However, we have not received anything from the British, although we are providing them."

The AstraZeneca vaccine is notably produced in two factories in Belgium and the Netherlands, two countries which have called for caution on a hardening of exports while other European countries, such as France, support it.

 With AFP

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