We’re all learning the limits of early vaccine data
Yesterday brought two journal publications on in-development Covid-19 vaccines, from Oxford University and CanSino, which doubled as a reminder that there’s only so much one can conclude from small, early studies.
Oxford’s vaccine, partnered with AstraZeneca, led to consistent immune response among healthy volunteers, generating antibodies against the novel coronavirus and resulting in only mild to moderate side effects. CanSino, which published Phase 2 data, also induced neutralizing antibodies, but its vaccine appeared to work better in some people than others.
Neither study was designed to answer the most important question, which is whether the vaccines actually prevent people from contracting the virus and developing Covid-19. And it remains unclear the extent to which generating antibodies — which vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer have also done — actually protects against infection. That can only be determined by larger, longer clinical trials.
Read more.
Oxford’s vaccine, partnered with AstraZeneca, led to consistent immune response among healthy volunteers, generating antibodies against the novel coronavirus and resulting in only mild to moderate side effects. CanSino, which published Phase 2 data, also induced neutralizing antibodies, but its vaccine appeared to work better in some people than others.
Neither study was designed to answer the most important question, which is whether the vaccines actually prevent people from contracting the virus and developing Covid-19. And it remains unclear the extent to which generating antibodies — which vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer have also done — actually protects against infection. That can only be determined by larger, longer clinical trials.
Read more.
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