Covaxin maker Bharat Biotech said its COVID-19 vaccine is 81 per cent effective
New Delhi:
Today, Bharat Biotech, the company that makes Covaxin, said that new data shows it is 81 per cent effective in protecting against COVID-19. This is interim analysis of Phase 3 of its trial. What does this data mean?
Here’s your 7-point guide:
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Covaxin is already in use in India. It’s been co-developed by Bharat Biotech International Ltd, a company based in Hyderabad, and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
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Its 81 per cent success or efficacy rate was based on this: the trial had a little over 25,000 people. Among this sample, 43 people contracted Covid – of them, 36 had been given a placebo and seven had been given Covaxin. To calculate efficacy rate, the formula is:
36 (placebo recipients) – 7 (vaccinated recipients) x 100 = 80.55%
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36 (placebo or unvaccinated number)
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Dr R Guleria, chief of AIIMS, said today’s data as “very encouraging” but more data needs to be collected with at least 130 people testing positive; remember, the current information is based on 43 people who contracted Covid.
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The data shared today is based on an interim trial. Bharat Biotech will conduct more tests and expand its trial. Bharat Biotech will release more information about a wider pool of people who tested positive for Covid.
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This is the final stage of the trial needed for the vaccine’s efficacy to be determined.
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The data will need to be peer reviewed.
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Today’s interim result is likely to persuade more people to take Covaxin and could help boost India’s vaccination programme.