Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine reached 90% efficacy due to dosing error; here's how it happened

A “serendipity” of an error led Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine trails to reach 90% efficacy after researchers accidentally gave some participants half doses. Oxford University revealed on vember 23 that its vaccine candidate developed with AstraZeneca h an overall efficacy of 70.4% but it could be nearly 90% when ministered as a half dose followed by a full dose a month later. 

It is both a triumph but also a matter of disappointment because Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have alrey declared ir respective vaccine candidates to be 95% and 94% efficient against COVID-19. However, Oxford and AstraZeneca’s vaccine is reportedly far cheaper and is comparatively easier to store and transport to even remote areas of world. 

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How did error take place?

However, as per Guardian report, executive vice-president of biopharmaceuticals research and development at AstraZeneca, Mene Pangalos explained that reason researchers h “half dose is serendipity”. As per reports, when university researchers were giving out vaccine doses at end of April when Oxford-AstraZeneca partnership h just begun, y ticed some milder than expected side effects including fatigue, heaches or arm aches. 

Pangalos also said that when researchers went back checked, y found out that dose of vaccine was “underpredicted” by half. After finding out error, researchers still continued with half dose along with ministering full dose booster shot at scheduled time. As per reports, at least 3,000 were given a half dose of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate followed by a full dose at least four weeks later. 

This pushed vaccine efficacy to 90%. Meanwhile, in ar larger group, volunteers were given two full doses a month apart and efficacy was 62% that me overall efficacy over 70%. However, scientists reportedly can still t fully derive main reason behind increased efficacy when vaccination is started with half doses. 

As per same report, Professor Sarah Gilbert from Oxford University who led research said that it may be that reduced doses trigger immune system in a different manner. Meanwhile, director of Oxford Vaccine Group and chief investigator of trial Professor  Andrew Pollard said that researchers do t kw if its difference in quantity or quality of immune response and informed that matter will w be investigated by team.

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