The AstraZeneca-University of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine has created immune responses in young and old adults, a promising sign that the shot could provide protection from the coronavirus.
The shot, now in late-stage human trials, also triggered lower adverse responses among the elderly, the sector of the population most vulnerable to serious illness. The company said in an announcement Monday that is likely to boost hopes that a COVID-19 vaccine is right around the corner.
“It is encouraging to see immunogenicity responses were similar between older and younger adults,” an AstraZeneca spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. “The results further build the body of evidence for the safety and immunogenicity of [the vaccine].”
AstraZeneca just resumed clinical trials of its vaccine candidate developed with the University of Oxford last week after pausing the study last month when a volunteer in the United Kingdom developed a neurological illness.
The Food and Drug Administration concluded Friday that the vaccine was not the cause of the neurological effects and told the company that it could resume enrolling volunteers for the clinical trials already in advanced stages.
Federal health officials have predicted conflicting timelines for widespread inoculations. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said last week that “by the end of [2020], we would have enough FDA-authorized vaccine to vaccinate our most vulnerable people.”
Meanwhile, the country’s most senior infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield, said last month that a vaccine for the entire country, or as many people as necessary, would be available next summer.
