Coronavirus Health UK

#Covid19 | Oxford University vaccine shows 70% protection

The coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford stops 70% of people developing Covid symptoms, a large-scale trial shows. 

It will be seen as both a triumph and a disappointment after vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna showed 95% protection.


So it will still play a significant role in tackling the pandemic, if it is approved by regulators. 

There is also intriguing data that suggests perfecting the dose could increase protection up to 90%.

The UK government has pre-ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine, enough to immunise 50 million people. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Incredibly exciting news the Oxford vaccine has proved so effective in trials. 


The Oxford researchers have developed the vaccine in around 10 months, a process that normally takes a decade.


What did the trial show?

More than 20,000 volunteers were involved, half in the UK, the rest in Brazil. 


The researchers said it works out at 70% protection.

When volunteers were given two “high” doses the protection was 62%, but this rose to 90% when people were given a “low” dose followed by a high one. It’s not clear why there is a difference. 

“We’re really pleased with these results,” Prof Andrew Pollard, the trial’s lead investigator, told the BBC.

He said the 90% effectiveness data was “intriguing” and would mean “we would have a lot more doses to distribute.”

There were also lower levels of asymptomatic infection in the low followed by high dose group which “means we might be able to halt the virus in its tracks,” Prof Pollard said. Coronavirus vaccine: How close are you to getting one?

When will I get it?

In the UK there are four million doses ready to go, with another 96 million to be delivered. 


However, the UK is ready to press the go button on an unprecedented mass immunisation campaign that dwarfs either the annual flu or childhood vaccination programmes. 

Care home residents and staff will be first in the queue, followed by healthcare workers and the over-80s. The plan is to then work the way down the age groups. 

How does it work?

The vaccine is a genetically modified common cold virus that used to infect chimpanzees.


Once these blueprints are inside the body they start the producing the coronavirus’ spike protein, which the immune system recognizes as a threat and tries to squash it. 

When the immune system comes into contact with the virus for real, it now knows what to do.

Are the results disappointing?

After Pfizer and Moderna both produced vaccines delivering 95% protection from Covid-19, a figure of 70% is relatively disappointing. 

However, anything above 50% would have been considered a triumph just a month ago.


Oxford’s manufacturing partner, AstraZeneca, is preparing to make three billion doses worldwide.

What difference will this make to my life?



Life will not return to normal tomorrow, but the situation could dramatically as those most at risk are protected. 

The deaths in the first wave were heavily concentrated in the over-80s and those in care homes. Protect those and this situation looks dramatically different. 



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