AstraZeneca vaccine has passed a series of safety tests in USA, Peru, and Chile registering 79 per cent efficacy allowing Washington to clear it for emergency inoculation.
Reuters reported that USA and South American countries ran tests on the efficacy of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine to ascertain the safety fears that emanated from Europe two weeks ago.
And after doing the tests, it turned out that the jab had better results and never resulted in blood clot concerns which were noted in European countries.
AstraZeneca did a trial by administering jabs four weeks apart while Oxford University made it a variety between four to 12 weeks apart.
But as opposed to the trials which were done in Brazil, Britain and South Africa, which did not involve the elderly; the studies done in the American countries encompassed population above 65 years. And, the results were impressive.
“In participants aged 65 years and over, vaccine efficacy was 80%,” reads the conclusion.
The vaccine had been struck by controversy surrounding its efficacy and safety as some European countries led by Denmark halted their inoculation processes due to safety concerns that were noted. Recipients of the jab were reported to have died due to blood clots days after receiving the vaccine.
In Africa, Cameroon and Congo were reportedly alarmed by the fears and resorted to halt their programs.
South Sudan is to receive over 800,000 doses of Astra with the first batch expected to land in the country this week.