AstraZeneca Becomes Third Company to Announce Promising Covid-19 Vaccine

AstraZeneca has now become the third company to announce a promising Covid-19 vaccine. Earlier today the drugmaker revealed its treatment had shown to be on average 70% effective in fighting the coronavirus during its large scale, worldwide trials. The vaccine, which was developed in conjunction with the University of Oxford, showed 90% efficacy in one regimen where the subjects were given a half dose, followed by a full dose at least a month later. The second regimen showed a 62% efficacy rate where two full doses were given at least a month apart. The combined analysis brings the average to 70%. This is just the latest company to post their trial results this month after Moderna announced a vaccine with a 94.5% efficacy rate and Pfizer at 95%. Pfizer is currently waiting on FDA Emergency Use Authorization to begin distribution across the nation. It’s believed the first Americans could be immunized as early as the second week of December, according to the White House Vaccine Chief. On the treatment front, Regeneron, which was the experimental antibody cocktail given to President Trump while he was sick, also received an Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA this weekend.