Covid: Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs effective against Indian variant – study

May 24, 2021, 02:07:10 PM |

KATHMANDU: The Pfizer and AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines are highly effective against the variant identified in India after two doses, a study has found.

Two jabs of either vaccine give a similar level of protection against symptomatic disease from the Indian variant as they do for the Kent one.

However, both vaccines were only 33% effective against the Indian variant three weeks after the first dose.

This compared with 50% effectiveness against the Kent variant.

Public Health England, which ran the study, said the vaccines are likely to be even more effective at preventing hospital admission and deaths.

The Moderna vaccine has also been used in the UK since April but the study said the numbers who had received it were too small for them to include it in their research.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the findings made him “increasingly confident” the final stage of easing restrictions in England could take place on 21 June.

The data showed getting both doses of the vaccine was “absolutely vital”, he added.

Fiscal Nepal |

Monday May 24, 2021, 02:07:10 PM |