COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford University/AstraZeneca are proving remarkably effective at preventing serious infections from the disease, another study says.
A study in Scotland that examined data from the 1 million residents that received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine found a much reduced risk of hospitalization - by 85% - after four weeks. This rose to 94% for the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine.
The study released Monday hasn't been peer reviewed. It does, however, reinforce findings from Israel and elsewhere that the COVID-19 vaccines in use worldwide are proving good at preventing serious infections, hospitalization, disease transmission and death.
Israel's Ministry of Health this past weekend said a study involving 1.7 million Israelis that had received both Pfizer/BioNTech shots showed 95.8% was less likely to fall ill from COVID-19 and 98.9% less likely to face hospitalization or death two weeks after receiving the treatment.
A study Clalit, the largest of Israel's four state health service organizations, showed patients inoculated with the Pfizer/BioNTech treatment were 92% less likely to experience serious symptoms than those who didn't get the vaccine.
A nonpeer reviewed study found just one dose reduced the risk of infection by 75% after two weeks.
"Israel has a remarkable diminution in cases associated with the efficiency of their vaccine," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The Pfizer/BioNTech treatment is the first to be authorized by the U.S. for emergency use and the first cleared for regular use.
The Oxford University/AstraZeneca one dose regimen showed 90% efficacy when a half-dose was followed by a full-dose after at least one month, based on mixed trials with no participants older than 55 years. Efficacy rose to 62% when given as two full doses separated by at least one month.
On Dec. 30 the vaccine was approved for use in the UK. The first vaccination outside of a trial was administered Jan. 4.
