Coronavirus good news thread

Pfizer Vaccine reporting 94% effectiveness in over 65’s
And an overall effectiveness of nearly 95% based on the latest analysis of 170 infections among trial participants. (The earlier figure of 90% overall was based on interim results when only 94 infections had occurred).

According to a report in the Washington Post:
[Pfizer's] latest analysis showed the vaccine is 95 percent effective at preventing illness and causes no major safety problems. [...] Among 170 coronavirus cases in the Pfizer trial, 162 were in the placebo group and eight were in the vaccine group.
 
And an overall effectiveness of nearly 95% based on the latest analysis of 170 infections among trial participants. (The earlier figure of 90% overall was based on interim results when only 94 infections had occurred).

According to a report in the Washington Post:
Those figures don't seem to add up. Not sure exactly how they calculate but at face value 9.4 vaccines vaccinated people initially caught the virus but only 8.5 vaccinated people had caught it at the latter stage. Basically, as the trial progressed no vaccinated people caught the virus.
 
A potential relief coming out of Denmark if this is true.

"A mutated form of coronavirus that led to orders to mass cull mink in Denmark is "most likely" extinct, according to the country's health ministry. The identification of the new strain had caused panic that it could compromise new vaccines.
Earlier this month, the Danish government drafted in the army to assist with the culling of 17 million farmed mink. But the order was found to be illegal, as it should have only applied in areas where the virus had been detected.
On Wednesday the agriculture minister resigned over his role in the decision. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who has apologised publicly, is also facing calls from the opposition to resign over the cull.
The country is now lifting restrictions in northern Denmark where the infected mink were found. Restaurants and cafes will re-open from Friday and people will be able to travel to other regions."
 
Another drug, Tocilizumab, looks to be improving the outcome in severe cases. Full study results yet to be published or peer reviewed, but due to the results looking positive, the researchers have issued the news now so that it can hopefully benefit some.


“These early findings show that treatment with this immune modulating drug is effective for critically ill COVID-19 patients in intensive care units. When we have the results available from all participants, we hope our findings will offer clear guidance to clinicians for improving the outcomes of the sickest COVID-19 patients.”



Despite all our many faults, the little old U.K. has really given the world a lot of hope during this pandemic with some pretty major studies finding effective drugs, not to mention the vaccine work with the Oxford/AstraZeneca efforts, which I think (if/when deemed successful) will probably be the major vaccine across the developing world given the fact it costs so much less than the other candidates so far.
 
FDA approve emergency use authorisation to another drug, baricitinib, to be used in combination with Remdesivir, following a randomised double blind placebo controlled trial including 1033 patients with moderate or severe covid.

‘In addition, the combination reduced the death rate by up to 33% according to information released by the FDA.’


 
Those figures don't seem to add up. Not sure exactly how they calculate but at face value 9.4 vaccinated people initially caught the virus but only 8.5 vaccinated people had caught it at the latter stage. Basically, as the trial progressed no vaccinated people caught the virus.
You're right - one thing that comes to mind is that in reading the results of clinical trials it seems pretty common for people to drop out or be excluded from trials as they progress, for various reasons. So it's possible that one of the people from the vaccine group that earlier tested positive then dropped out, meaning their data could no longer be included.
 
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Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been shown to trigger a robust immune response in older adults (over 70 years of age). The data, published today in The Lancet, suggest that one of the groups most vulnerable to serious illness and death from COVID-19, could build immunity.

Furthermore, the vaccine was less likely to cause local reactions and symptoms of fever, headache etc in older adults than in the younger group.

Lancet article
 
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Some more news been reported.


Will be interesting to see how that would be administered nationally for the testing process. Drive through testing on the way to work?

Postal testing is > 48 hours turn around currently which would mean you are still potentially contagious for 2 days before being contacted.

If the infrastructure and access is right this would be an amazing step forward.
 
Will be interesting to see how that would be administered nationally for the testing process. Drive through testing on the way to work?

Postal testing is > 48 hours turn around currently which would mean you are still potentially contagious for 2 days before being contacted.

If the infrastructure and access is right this would be an amazing step forward.
I still don't know why we haven't used South Korea's testing booths.
 
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