The Astra Zeneca/Oxford and Pfizer vaccines were shown to be very effective in combating COVID 19 in people over 70, according to new data by Public Health England.
The Oxford and Pfizer vaccines, launched in January 2021 and December 2020 respectively, have new data confirming their effectiveness in combating COVID 19 in people over 70 from a recent study published this week.
The study compares three groups; two groups of people over 70, one testing positive with symptoms and the other negative; two groups of people over 80, one group vaccinated and positive and the other group vaccinated and negative. The third group consisted of two groups of people over 80, one group vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine and the other not.
In the second study, data suggests that both vaccines is 80 per cent more effective in preventing hospitalisation within three to four weeks and the first study produced data that symptomatic infections decreased around three weeks after a dose of either vaccine. The Pfizer alone is shown to reduce up to 83 per cent of COVID-19 deaths overall.
This development was further explained by Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van Tam in a Government press conference, who added that the Pfizer reduced the likelihood of mortality by 85 per cent.
Dr Mary Ramsay, PHE Head of Immunisation, said: “This adds to growing evidence showing that the vaccines are working to reduce infections and save lives. While there remains much more data to follow, this is encouraging and we are increasingly confident that vaccines are making a real difference.
“It is important to remember that protection is not complete and we don’t yet know how much these vaccines will reduce the risk of you passing COVID-19 onto others. Even if you have been vaccinated, it is it is really important that you continue to act like you have the virus, practise good hand hygiene and stay at home.”
This news comes where COVID-19 cases in Sheffield continue to fluctuate even with the lockdown extended as the most recent numbers being 142 in one day and 132.1 on a seven day average as of February 5, according to Government data.
Greg Fell, Director of Public Health in Sheffield, mentioned in a situation report on Monday that the lockdown has reduced rates across Sheffield with 120 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In addition, the Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination has confirmed that persons with a learning disability are now eligible for the vaccine.
