Tag: AstraZeneca

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AstraZeneca Unveils Expansion Plans

The expansion includes close to 1,300 roles focused on driving innovation, enhancing efficiency, and streamlining operations across the company globally….reports Asian Lite News

 AstraZeneca India Private Limited (AZIPL), the Global Capability Centre (GCC) of the pharma group AstraZeneca on Thursday said it will invest Rs 250 crore on expanding its Global Innovation and Technology Centre (GITC) here.

The expansion includes close to 1,300 roles focused on driving innovation, enhancing efficiency, and streamlining operations across the company globally.

The expanded facility was inaugurated in a ceremony officiated by the Minister of Industries Tamil Nadu, T.R.B. Rajaa, British Deputy High Commissioner to India Christina Scott CMG, AstraZeneca Vice President for Asia Area Sylvia Varela and others.

The investment marks a significant milestone in AstraZeneca’s growth story in India as it celebrates its 45th year in the country this month.

With the highly skilled roles to be brought in by 2025, the expanded GITC will propel the company’s vision to leverage technologies such as enterprise platforms, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and supply chain analytics to shape healthcare outcomes.

“Technology is the driving force behind innovation and we are committed to make Tamil Nadu an epicentre of technology and research. This collaboration with AstraZeneca aligns perfectly with our vision to foster innovation and create high-value opportunities for the people of Tamil Nadu. We are committed to ensure Tamil Nadu’s position as a premier investment destination for companies around the world,” Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin said.

Minister of Industries Tamil Nadu T.R.B Rajaa said that in the last three years, Chennai has rapidly emerged as the GCC Capital of India, leading to historical levels of office space absorption and bringing high-quality jobs to the state.

Referring to AstraZeneca’s GCC, Rajaa said, the investment will not only enhance our state’s capabilities in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors but also spur technological advancements and economic development.

“Our expansion in Chennai signifies AstraZeneca’s unwavering commitment to pioneering science and innovation. India’s rich talent pool and dynamic ecosystem for digital advancements make it a pivotal hub for our global operations,” Dr. Sanjeev Panchal, Managing Director & Country President AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited (AZPIL).

Since its inception, the GITC in Chennai has evolved from providing traditional IT services to becoming an engine of AstraZeneca’s digital journey, driving productivity, simplification, technology delivery, and innovation across the company’s global operations, supporting the delivery of life-changing medicines to patients worldwide.

The facility currently occupies 334,000 square feet of office space at Ramanujan IT City, with plans to add approximately 180,000 square feet over the next six months to accommodate this expansion, creating AstraZeneca’s biggest global capability centre.

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COVID-19 Health

‘AstraZeneca vaccine increases another rare blood clot risk’

New research from Flinders University and international experts shows that PF4 antibodies in both adenovirus infection-associated VITT and classic adenoviral vector VITT have identical molecular signatures…reports Asian Lite News

British-Swedish pharma giant AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine, made in collaboration with Oxford University has been found to raise the risk of vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) — a rare but fatal blood clotting disorder, claimed researchers on Thursday.

While not new, VITT emerged as a new disease following adenovirus vector-based Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine — sold as Covishield in India and Vaxzevria in Europe — at the height of the Covid pandemic in 2021.

“An unusually dangerous blood autoantibody directed against a protein termed platelet factor 4 (or PF4)” was found as the reason for VITT.

In separate research in 2023, scientists from Canada, North America, Germany and Italy described a virtually identical disorder with the same PF4 antibody that was fatal in some cases after natural adenovirus (common cold) infection.

Now in a new research, Flinders University in Australia and other international experts found that the PF4 antibodies in both adenovirus infection-associated VITT and classic adenoviral vector VITT share identical molecular fingerprints or signatures.

“Indeed, the pathways of lethal antibody production in these disorders must be virtually identical and have similar genetic risk factors,” said Professor Tom Gordon from Flinders

The researcher noted that the “findings have the important clinical implication that lessons learned from VITT are applicable to rare cases of blood clotting after adenovirus (a common cold) infections, as well as having implications for vaccine development”.

The same team had in a 2022 study “cracked the molecular code of the PF4 antibody and identified a genetic risk factor”.

Their new findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, also have important implications for improving vaccine safety.

The research comes after AstraZeneca “accepted, in a legal document submitted to the High Court in February, that its Covid vaccine ‘can, in very rare cases, cause Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Syndrome (TTS)’.”

TTS is a rare side effect that can cause people to have blood clots and a low blood platelet count. It has been linked to the death of at least 81 people in the UK as well as hundreds of serious injuries.

The company has also voluntarily withdrawn “marketing authorisation” of its Covid vaccine from Europe and other global markets.

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M42, AstraZeneca partner for breast cancer precision medicine

The initiative demonstrates M42’s advanced multi-omics sequencing capabilities in the realm of oncological diagnostics…reports Asian Lite News

M42, the global health powerhouse, has signed a groundbreaking agreement with AstraZeneca, a global leader in science-led biopharmaceuticals, to advance preventive healthcare and next-generation precision medicine.

As AstraZeneca’s clinical genomics partner of choice in the Middle East region, M42 will conduct sequencing of hereditary breast cancer genes, with the aim of developing personalised care and prevention strategies tailored to the specific needs of each patient.

The initiative demonstrates M42’s advanced multi-omics sequencing capabilities in the realm of oncological diagnostics, a relatively new field that has tremendous potential to improve patient outcomes amid the growing global cancer burden.

By facilitating the sequencing of cancer genes, M42 will facilitate in determining each patient’s genetic risk for cancer, thus ensuring that preventive measures can be explored in the early stages or even before the cancer develops. In doing so, the health-tech leader, in partnership with AstraZeneca, is also providing one of the first companion diagnostics programmes in the Gulf, with findings that could be utilised to optimise personalised drug-based interventions for patients.

Dr. Fahed Al Marzooqi, Deputy Group Chief Operating Officer at M42, said, “M42 operates at the cutting edge of innovation and is committed to reshaping the future of health with its provision of next-generation preventive and precision medicine. This pioneering programme, powered by disruptive omics technologies, aims to enable personalised cancer treatment and intervention, contributing directly to patient outcomes and paving the way for preventive medicine, in keeping with our mission to support people, not just patients and prevention, not just treatment. Our partnership with AstraZeneca aims to further lay the groundwork for a future in which precision medicine is the norm for effectively combatting health challenges.”

Peter Raouf, GCC Oncology Business Unit Director at AstraZeneca, said, “This collaboration with M42 represents a significant step forward in our commitment to advancing personalised precision medicine in cancer research. At AstraZeneca, we are happy to be pioneering efforts in preventative cancer care by utilising M42’s state-of-the-art genomics expertise. It is our priority to continue striving to enhance patient outcomes for the health of people, society, and the planet.”

The sequencing will be carried out at M42’s Omics Center of Excellence, one of the largest multi-omics research facilities in the world with a specific focus on generating advanced genomics knowledge.

As the region’s largest and most advanced omics facility, M42’s Omics Centre of Excellence has already been instrumental in facilitating one of the largest population genomic initiatives in the world, the Emirati Genome Programme (EGP).

Under the EGP programme, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi has published guidelines on germline testing for breast and ovarian cancer predisposition genes to improve precision medicine practices in the emirate and tailor treatment based on patients genetic makeup.

For the purposes of this study, research efforts will focus on patients from the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar in order to strengthen genomics knowledge related to non-Western population groups, which are typically under-represented in clinical research. Under the agreement, the first hospital to collect genomics data from consenting patients will be Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a world-class hospital dedicated to complex care that is part of the M42 network.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. In the UAE, it is the leading cause of cancer death, resulting in 11.6 percent of all cancer fatalities every year, according to the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP). About 15 percent of breast cancers are caused by hereditary mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which can be passed down by both parents to their progeny.

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AstraZeneca admits to side effects of Covid vaccine

AstraZeneca has made the admission in court documents in connection with a case that alleges that the vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, caused death and serious injury in dozens of cases…reports Asian Lite News

In light of recent concerns surrounding potential rare side effects of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, the pharmaceutical giant has reiterated its commitment to patient safety while emphasising the vaccine’s overall safety profile.

An AstraZeneca spokesperson stated, “Our sympathy goes out to anyone who has lost loved ones or reported health problems. Patient safety is our highest priority, and regulatory authorities have clear and stringent standards to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines.”

This comes in the wake of a recent admission by AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical company, that its Covid vaccine Covishield and Vaxzevria “can, in very rare cases, cause Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS).”

Despite these rare occurrences, the pharmaceutical company maintains that extensive clinical trial data and real-world evidence consistently support the vaccine’s safety and efficacy. Regulatory agencies worldwide continue to assert that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of such extremely rare side effects.

According to several media reports, AstraZeneca has made the admission in court documents in connection with a case that alleges that the vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, caused death and serious injury in dozens of cases.

The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield but not using mRNA platform. It has been prepared using the viral vector platform. In the vaccine, a chimpanzee adenovirus – ChAdOx1 – has been modified to enable it to carry the COVID-19 spike protein into the cells of humans. This cold virus is basically incapable of infecting the receiver, but can very well teach the immune system to prepare a mechanism against such viruses.

The same technology was used to prepare vaccines for viruses like Ebola.

Notably in 2023, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in its report that TTS emerged as a new adverse event following immunisation in individuals vaccinated with COVID-19 non-replicant adenovirus vector-based vaccines.

This refers to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 ChAdOx-1 vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson (J & J) Janssen COVID-19 Ad26.COV2-S vaccines.

“TTS is a serious and life-threatening adverse event. WHO has issued this interim emergency guidance to increase awareness about TTS in the context of COVID-19 vaccination and help healthcare providers in the assessment and management of potential TTS cases,” the 2023 statement by WHO read.

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AstraZeneca plans £650 mn investment in UK

The plans outlined today are the latest step in the wider plan to deliver the long-term change that Britain needs – to deliver a brighter future and improve economic security and opportunity for everyone…reports Asian Lite News

Pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca on Wednesday outlined plans to invest £650 million in the UK – helping boost the UK’s world leading Life Sciences sector and grow the economy. This significant investment will enhance public health protection and pandemic preparedness.  

AstraZeneca intends to invest £450 million at their manufacturing site in Speke, Liverpool for the research, development, and manufacture of vaccines – building on the site’s current role in supplying the world leading childhood vaccination programme. The new facility will be designed and built to be operationally net zero with power supplied from renewable energy sources.

In a further boost for the UK’s resilience for future pandemics and global health threats, AstraZeneca and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) plan to work in partnership to advance science for developing and evaluating vaccines – using technology from both AstraZeneca’s manufacturing site in Speke and the UKHSA’s Vaccine Development Evaluation Centre (VDEC) at their Porton Down site.

AstraZeneca will also expand its presence at Europe’s largest life sciences cluster in Cambridge with £200 million in investment. The facility will house around 1,000 employees and will be adjacent to its £1.1 billion global R&D Discovery Centre (DISC), which already hosts 2,300 researchers and scientists. These jobs will provide opportunities for people looking to get the skills they need to succeed in life and – with cuts to National Insurance – enjoy more money in their pocket as a result of their hard work.

To drive investment and growth, the UK Government has delivered one of the most competitive business tax regimes of any major economy – sticking to an economic plan to build a stronger economy where hard work is rewarded, and ambition and aspiration are celebrated. Full expensing is one of the biggest business tax cuts in modern British history, giving the UK the most generous regime for capital allowances in the G7 and joint most generous in the OECD.

The plans outlined today are the latest step in the wider plan to deliver the long-term change that Britain needs – to deliver a brighter future and improve economic security and opportunity for everyone. This demonstrates the vast Life Sciences expertise and capability in this country and will further strengthen AstraZeneca’s UK footprint. The company will also open a new manufacturing facility for one of its cancer medicines in Macclesfield later this year, following the announcement of a £380 million investment in 2021.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said, “To drive investment we’ve delivered one of the most competitive business tax regimes of any major economy, as part of our plan to help our key industries to grow. Our £108 billion Life Sciences sector provides over 300,000 high skilled jobs across the UK and is crucial for the country’s health, wealth and resilience. We are sticking to our plan to make the UK one of the best places in world to invest in developing and manufacturing new, innovative medicines – both protecting public health and growing our economy. AstraZeneca’s investment plans are a vote of confidence in the attractiveness of UK as a Life Sciences superpower and strengthen our resilience for future health emergencies.”

AstraZeneca Chief Executive Officer, Sir Pascal Soriot, said, “AstraZeneca’s planned investment would enhance the UK’s pandemic preparedness and demonstrates our ongoing confidence in UK life sciences.  We will continue to support the UK in driving innovation and patient access, building on the strong foundations which have been put in place. This year marks 25 years since the merger of UK-based Zeneca Group and Swedish Astra AB. We are proud of our British roots and how far we have come over that time – we are now a truly global company that has transformed the lives of millions of patients throughout the world with a relentless focus on science and innovation.”

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Dubai Health UAE News

AstraZeneca’s Carbon Reduction Journey Hits Dubai

The offices are part of a raft of measures by AstraZeneca to accelerate the transition to sustainable healthcare in the UAE, aligned with the company’s global Ambition Zero Carbon programme….reports Asian Lite News

AstraZeneca inaugurated its new sustainable offices in Dubai Science Park, a member of the TECOM group PJSC. The offices mark a critical milestone along the company’s carbon footprint reduction journey in the United Arab Emirates.

The offices are part of a raft of measures by AstraZeneca to accelerate the transition to sustainable healthcare in the UAE, aligned with the company’s global Ambition Zero Carbon programme. Key plans include transitioning to electric vehicles (EV100) by 2025 and launching its first next generation inhaler with a near-zero global warming potential propellant in the UAE market.

The inauguration brought together H.E. Dr Amin Al Amiri Assistant, Undersecretary of Health Regulation Sector at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, H.E. Dr Ahmed Alkhazraji, Executive Director of Strategy and Policy at the Department of Health Abu Dhabi and Dr. Ramadan Al Blooshi, Director of  Public Health & Protection Department at Dubai Health authority alongside Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, , Abdulla Belhoul, Chief Executive Officer of TECOM Group, Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of Dubai Science Park, and other senior health leaders in the UAE to highlight the need to accelerate the transition to net zero sustainable healthcare.

Spanning an area of 20,000 square feet, the new premises aim to achieve platinum standards in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a globally recognised symbol of sustainability achievement, as defined by the US Green Building Council.

Sameh El Fangary, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Cluster President of AstraZeneca, said: “Climate change is the biggest threat to human health, which is why as a healthcare company, we have a duty to act. AstraZeneca shares the UAE’s vision of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. Our sustainable offices will contribute to AstraZeneca’s drive to cut emissions and be science-based net zero by 2045 at the latest.

“What is particularly special about this event is witnessing the UAE’s healthcare ecosystem come together and recognise the interconnectedness between health equity, health resilience and climate action. It is clear that this is a mission that is to be led by all, for all.”

Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of Dubai Science Park, part of TECOM Group said: “As stewards of health and progress, science companies have a profound impact on society and the environment. Embracing sustainable practices ensures that our actions today do not compromise the well-being of future generations.

“Nurturing eco-friendly innovation can create a harmonious balance between scientific advancements and environmental preservation, and by prioritising sustainability, AstraZeneca has set a sterling example for the science sector. Its efforts align with Dubai Science Park’s goals to contribute to the Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’ and Dubai R&D Strategy and reinforce our ambition to enable sustainable scientific advancement.

The LEED platinum certification awards points based on the application of sustainability principles during the design, construction, and material selection of the new facility. It offers the opportunity for AstraZeneca’s offices at Dubai Science Park to serve as a benchmark for efficiency and sustainability in the science sector.

Dubai Science Park is part of TECOM Group’s portfolio of business districts that include Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Design District (d3) and Dubai Industrial City.

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Russia rebuffs claim of stealing AZ jab formula from UK


Russia’s Sputnik jab uses similar technology to the AstraZeneca-Oxford designed vaccine….reports Asian Lite News

Russia has rebuffed accusations that its spies stole the “blueprint” for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and used it to create its own Sputnik V jab.

It’s “scientific nonsense”, the head of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund), was quoted as saying.

This week, British security services alleged that Russian spies stole and hacked UK’s Covid vaccine data, according to a report in The Sun. Several other reports alleged that UK security services told British ministers they had solid proof against Russia.

However, RDIF called it “fake” and a “blatant lie”, the report said.

“There is no merit [to these claims] and we’re very clear about this,” Kirill Dmitriev was quoted as saying to CNBC on Wednesday.

“This report is complete scientific nonsense, it has zero merit and frankly it’s a lie,” he added.

Russia’s Sputnik jab uses similar technology to the AstraZeneca-Oxford designed vaccine.

The security teams are sure it was copied and it is understood the data was stolen by a foreign agent in person, the newspaper claimed.

Last year, spies blamed Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying they were “more than 95 per cent” sure that Russian state-sponsored hackers had targeted British, American and Canadian bodies developing a Covid vaccine, it added.

Dmitriev called the report “nonsense from anonymous sources” and said the accusations were part of a “smear campaign against Sputnik V because some politicians don’t like Russia and because some big pharma companies, who are afraid of the success of Sputnik V, continue to attack Sputnik V and Sputnik Light (its one-dose booster shot) from day one, so we’re used to these attacks”, he told CNBC’s “Street Signs Europe.”

He added that the country wants to partner other vaccine producers and is ready for a joint clinical trial taking place with AstraZeneca (to determine if mixed Covid vaccine doses work, the report said.

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‘Pfizer, AZ vax antibodies may drop 50% in 3 months’

The researchers highlighted that although the clinical implications of waning antibody levels are not yet clear, some decline was expected and current research shows that vaccines remain effective against severe disease…reports Asian Lite News.

Total antibody levels produced by both Pfizer and AstraZeneca appear to start declining from as early as six weeks after two vaccine doses and can reduce by more than 50 per cent over 10 weeks, according to a new study stressing the need for booster doses.

The study, led by researchers of the University College London, showed that the waning effect of the vaccine doses were consistent across all groups of people regardless of age, chronic illnesses or sex.

Published as a research letter in The Lancet, the study included data from over 600 people and showed antibody levels are substantially higher following two doses of the Pfizer vaccine than after two doses of the AstraZeneca jab.

AstraZeneca vaccine

They are also much higher in those with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The researchers highlighted that although the clinical implications of waning antibody levels are not yet clear, some decline was expected and current research shows that vaccines remain effective against severe disease.

For Pfizer, antibody levels reduced from a median of 7506 U/mL at 21-41 days, to 3320 U/mL at 70 or more days. For AstraZeneca, antibody levels reduced from a median of 1201 U/mL at 0-20 days to 190 U/mL (67-644) at 70 or more days.

“The levels of antibody following both doses of either the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine were initially very high, which is likely to be an important part of why they are so protective against severe Covid-19,” said Maddie Shrotri from the UCL Institute of Health Informatics.

“However, we found these levels dropped substantially over the course of two to three months. If they carry on dropping at this rate, we are concerned that the protective effects of the vaccines may also begin to wear off, particularly against new variants; but we cannot yet predict how soon that might happen,” she added.

The findings support recommendations from the UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) that adults who are clinically vulnerable, those aged 70 years or over, and all residents of care homes for older adults should be prioritised for booster doses.

“In addition, those who were vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, including most care home residents, are likely to have much lower antibody levels than those vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine, so this may also need to be considered when deciding who should be prioritised when boosters are rolled out,” said Professor Rob Aldridge from the UCL Institute of Health Informatics.

However, the study included only a small sample size and different people will have different levels of immunity depending on the virus neutralizing ability of their antibodies as well as their T-cell responses.

Thus, additional research is important to establish if there is an antibody level threshold needed for protection against severe disease, the researchers noted.

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AZ tests booster jab to counter Beta variant


The study aims to enroll 2,250 participants from the UK, South Africa, Brazil and Poland to build immunity against the Beta Covid variant…reports Asian Lite News.

British-Swedish biopharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca has in partnership with the University of Oxford rolled out human trials for booster shots against Beta Covid variant.

The booster shot, named AZD2816, will be administered to individuals who have previously been fully vaccinated with two doses of AstraZeneca vaccine/Vaxzervia or an mRNA vaccine, at least three months after their last injection.

In non-vaccinated individuals, AZD2816 will be given as two doses, four or twelve weeks apart, or given as a second dose following a first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine/Vaxzervia –four weeks apart, the company said in a statement on Sunday.

AZD2816 has been designed using the same adenoviral vector platform as AstraZeneca vaccine/ Vaxzervia, with minor genetic alterations to the spike protein based on the Beta (B1351) variant, first identified in South Africa.

The study aims to enroll 2,250 participants from the UK, South Africa, Brazil and Poland to build immunity against the Beta Covid variant.

“Testing booster doses of existing vaccines and new variant vaccines is important to ensure we are best prepared to stay ahead of the pandemic coronavirus, should their use be needed,” said Professor Sir Andrew J. Pollard, chief investigator and director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, in the statement.

Initial data from the trial is expected later this year and, once available, will be submitted to regulators for assessment as a next-generation booster vaccine and through an expedited regulatory pathway, the company said.

“The Beta variant vaccine contains 10 changes across the spike protein, many of which are also seen in other variants of concern, and which lead to effects such as, reduced ability of antibodies induced against the original virus to block cell entry (K417N, E484K, N501Y), increased infectivity compared to the original virus (D614G); reduced sensitivity of neutralising antibodies to the original virus (L452R),” the company said.

Besides these minor modifications, the two AZD2816 and AstraZeneca vaccine/ Vaxzervia vaccines are the same, it noted.

In May, the UK launched a clinical trial that aimed to assess the efficacy of a third ‘booster’ dose of seven different Covid-19 vaccines — Oxford-AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax, Valneva, Janssen and Curevac — on patients immune responses.

It costs 19.3 million pound and is being funded by the UK government and led by the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted that there is currently no data to support that a Covid-19 vaccine booster shot is needed for the general population. But, an extra dose may be needed for more-vulnerable groups, such as older adults or organ transplant patients.

Both Pfizer and Moderna are investigating a third dose of Covid vaccine, while Johnson & Johnson is studying the need for a second dose to raise protection against the virus, the report said.

The US NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, or NIAID, is also conducting a clinical trial to understand whether a third shot of a Moderna vaccine could be given after a person initially received two shots of Pfizer, or one shot of Johnson & Johnson, the report added

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‘Pfizer, AZ jabs highly effective against Delta variant’

These are comparable with vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation from the Alpha (B117) variant: 96 per cent after two doses with Pfizer vaccine and 92 per cent after two doses from AstraZeneca vaccines…reports Asian Lite News.

Two doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccines are highly effective against hospitalisation from the Delta (B16172) variant, according to new analysis from Public Health England (PHE).

The analysis suggests that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 96 per cent effective against hospitalisation after two doses, while the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is 92 per cent effective against hospitalisation after two doses.

These are comparable with vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation from the Alpha (B117) variant: 96 per cent after two doses with Pfizer vaccine and 92 per cent after two doses from AstraZeneca vaccines.

The new analysis included 14,019 cases of the Delta variant, 166 of whom were hospitalised between 12 April and 4 June, looking at emergency hospital admissions in England. The results have been posted as a preprint. Preprints are yet to be peer-reviewed.

“This evidence of the effectiveness of two doses against variants shows just how crucial it is to get your second jab. If you have had your first dose but haven’t booked your second yet — please do so. It will help save lives and boost us on the road to recovery,” said Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock, in a statement.

“These hugely important findings confirm that the vaccines offer significant protection against hospitalisation from the Delta variant. The vaccines are the most important tool we have against Covid-19. Thousands of lives have already been saved because of them. It is absolutely vital to get both doses as soon as they are offered to you, to gain maximum protection against all existing and emerging variants,” added Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at PHE.

A study by PHE in May showed that three weeks after the first dose of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine provided only 33 per cent protection against the Delta variant, while it offered 50 per cent effectiveness against the Alpha variant.

The B16172 variant was first discovered in India and is one of three related strains. It was declared as a variant of global concern last month by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is 60 per cent more transmissible than the Alpha strain identified in the UK.

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