This past Monday, February 15th, the World Health Organization (WHO) approved the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use around the world. While the US government and the FDA have yet to discuss and vote on the drug for domestic use, this emergency authorization offers an opportunity to improve conditions for millions of communities around the world that have been ravaged by the Coronavirus. Here are 4 key takeaways surrounding the new vaccine:
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It’s cheap and easy to use. Compared to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which must be transported and kept at extremely low temperatures, it is stored at a normal refrigerated temperature. This aspect makes the vaccine ideal for communities with lower levels of infrastructure. Also, at only $25 per dose, this option is much more cost effective to administer, especially given the fact that there is no need to invest in high powered freezer methods before inoculation.
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It’s approximately 63% effective. The current protocol states that two doses should be administered and spaced apart by 8 to 12 weeks. While early results show less efficacy than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, studies show that it greatly reduces the severity of symptoms associated with the virus. Additionally, a very promising development associated with this approval is the vaccine’s ability to treat the new South African variant–stopping the spread of this contagious mutation.
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It will make up a large part of the supply for the COVAX sharing scheme. This effort, instituted by WHO, is a multifaceted approach to deliver vaccines to the most vulnerable. Nearly 180 countries, in need of 330 million doses as of now, are included in the program. Before the institution of this new drug, they had limited access to any of the general vaccine supply. Due to the relative low cost and ease of storage of the Astrazeneca version, developing nations now have a more equitable piece of the total distribution.
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Emergency Use Authorization differs from approval. While this version of the vaccine has promising preliminary results, WHO was tasked with a difficult decision about whether or not to approve the drug given the dire circumstances. According to NBC News, “The WHO’s review found that the Astrazeneca vaccine met the ‘must-have’ criteria for safety, and its efficacy benefits outweighed its risks.” While the WHO still prohibits administration to individuals under 18, the early results are encouraging enough to release the vaccines to vulnerable populations–namely healthcare workers and the elderly.