Data from the interim clinical trials of Oxford University's covid-19 vaccine candidate prompts a better immune response when a two full-dose regime is administered rather than a full-dose followed by a half-dose booster, said the university. The Oxford vaccine candidate being developed in collaboration with pharmaceuticals company AstraZeneca had earlier revealed that when a half dose followed by a full dose showed higher efficacy in treating the virus in comparison to a two full-dose regime.
As per the latest data released on Thursday from the Oxford coronavirus vaccine Phase one and two clinical trials cites no reference to the half-dose/full-dose regime, which Oxford has said had been "unplanned" but approved by regulators.
Oxford coronavirus vaccine earlier trial data showed its vaccine to be 62 per cent effective for trial participants given two full doses. It showed a more robust 90 per cent for a smaller sub-group when it was given half in the beginning, then a full dose of the covid vaccine.
The Oxford University in a statement on Thursday said it had explored two dosing regimes in early-stage trials, a full-dose/full-dose regime and a full-dose/half-dose regime. "The booster doses of the vaccine are both shown to induce stronger antibody responses than a single dose, the standard dose/standard dose inducing the best response," the university said in a statement.
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It added, “The vaccine "stimulates broad antibody and T cell functions.”
Meantime, Pfizer has got emergency approval in many countries and Moderna too is on the run to achieve the emergency use approval anytime soon.