Use Of Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine Stopped In Many Countries

The administration for the public regarding the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has been temporarily suspended in several countries around the world after several cases have been reported, which states that some of the patients have begun to develop blood clots who have recently been vaccinated.

According to the regulating authority, the pause in supply is a precautionary move, but there is not enough evidence that could suggest that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is the major cause of excessive clotting of blood although, the United Kingdom is still continuing its vaccine rollout despite the claims.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is a highly protective measure for people against the rapidly surging COVID-19 infection and is able to reduce the risk of someone acquiring the viral infection and needing treatment from a medical center by 80%.

Safety measures

There is currently no suggestion that could indicate that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is unsafe for public administration. The blood clots in the body can occur as a natural process and are very common. As for March 10, 2021, there have been 30 cases reported of developing blood clots out of almost five million vials of doses administered across Europe, which is a very limited and small amount which is insufficient to state that the clots in blood happened due to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

According to the World Health Organization, European Medicines Agency, and the United Kingdom’s medicine regulating authority says that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is safe for consumption. Currently, a review is being conducted by the EMA; in the meantime, other countries, including the Netherlands, Norway, Ireland, Iceland, Bulgaria, and Denmark, are among some of the countries that have temporarily paused the administration of the vaccine.

Working of vaccine

Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is manufactured by using a much-weakened version of the adenovirus (which causes the common cold) and acquired from chimpanzees. There have been multiple modifications of the virus to make it look like the COVID-19 virus, but it is actually unable to cause any illness when administered.

Once the vaccine is administered into the human body, it allows the immune system of the body to combat the real infectious pathogen when required.

Unlike the vaccine developed by pharmaceutical firm Pfizer, which is required to be kept at a constant, very cold temperature of -70C, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine could easily be stored in a normal fridge. This makes the vaccine process easier to distribute.

According to the clinical trials done have reportedly shown that the Pfizer vaccine is around 95% more effective as compared to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which is tested to be 62% efficient against the coronavirus infection.

The direct comparison between both vaccines against COVID-19 Is a difficult process as there are major differences between the manufacturing process and the conduction of clinical trials. No individual who has received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has been admitted into a hospital or has gone into critical medical condition due to coronavirus.

A recent research study has revealed that a single dosage of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has offered 76% protection for the time duration of three months, which further increases after being injected with the second dose up to 82%.

Some of the countries across Europe have initially offered to provide the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to individuals between the age of 18 to 64 years old due to the fact that they do not have a sufficient amount of data that could support positive protective results in people aged over 64.

Both France and Germany have recently reversed their stance, due to which they are currently offering to provide the vaccine to people over 65 years. The EMA has given their final approval for the administration of the vaccine to be used for people of all age groups, including other individuals.

The firm AstraZeneca has stated that according to the data collected during the clinical trial period, which suggests that their Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine works in people above 65 years. Various studies done in the early time duration have suggested that the vaccine has an equal effect on the immunity among individuals of younger and older ages.

The time duration during which the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine provides protection is yet to be confirmed. A research study has shown that the unvaccinated individuals who have acquired the coronavirus infection are able to develop protection against the pathogen for time duration of six months. The vaccines developed are able to provide immunity for longer time duration.

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