AstraZeneca released new data on its COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday – which the company says is 76 percent effective in preventing symptomatic cases of the coronavirus.
The release of data is the latest salvo in a back-and-forth conversation with US regulators, who accused the London-based pharmaceutical company of ‘cherry picking’ data to make it look like the shot was more effective.
On Monday, AstraZeneca claimed a 79 percent effectiveness rate, but the next day an independent panel overseeing the study wrote a letter to U.S. health officials saying the company had omitted some symptomatic COVID-19 cases – a move they believe has the potential to undermine public confidence in the vaccine.
Following public criticism, AstraZeneca said the data was based on a “pre-specified interim analysis” and agreed to issue an updated report.
“This is really what you would call a casual mistake because the fact is that this is very likely a very good vaccine,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci Tuesday on “Good Morning America”. ‘This sort of thing really raises some doubt about the vaccines and may add to the hesitation. It was not necessary. “
The information released Wednesday, “meanwhile, confirms that our COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective in adults, including those aged 65 and older,” said Mene Pangalos, the company’s chief of research.
AstaZeneca hoped to regain confidence after a painstaking rollout in Europe – leaving the company with inconsistent data – as well as a fear of several high-profile cases of patients developing blood clots after receiving the shot.
AstaZeneca also said it plans to seek FDA emergency approval for the vaccine within a few weeks.
With pole wires