OXFORD University’s coronavirus vaccine is “up to 90 per cent effective”, phase three findings have revealed.
The interim results from Britain’s jab, developed by AstraZeneca, found it prevented 70 per cent of people from developing Covid-19.
The UK has pre-ordered 100 million doses of the jab – enough for most of the population, which the NHS is ready to roll out from next month.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky News: “These figures … shows that the vaccine in the right dosage can be up to 90 per cent effective.
“We’ve got 100 million doses on order and should all that go well, the bulk of the rollout will be in the new year.”
Mr Hancock added that Brits could expect to see life return to normal by Easter next year.
The preliminary data, published today, shows that overall the vaccine is 70.4 per cent effective.
But tests on two different dose regimes found that it was 90 per cent effective if administered at a half dose and then at a full dose, or 62 per cent effective when given in two full doses.
The vaccine – called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 – uses a harmless, weakened version of a common virus which causes a cold in chimpanzees.
Unlike the Pfizer vaccine – which has been found to be 95 per cent effective – the Oxford jab can be stored at more standard fridge temperatures.oday
Professor Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and Chief Investigator of the Oxford Vaccine Trial, said: “These findings show that we have an effective vaccine that will save many lives.
“Excitingly, we’ve found that one of our dosing regimens may be around 90% effective and if this dosing regime is used, more people could be vaccinated with planned vaccine supply.
“Today’s announcement is only possible thanks to the many volunteers in our trial, and the hard working and talented team of researchers based around the world.”
