In this week’s coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine news, the UK has reached the 60mln milestone of administered doses.
That includes 22mln people having received both shots required to complete the immunisation course.
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On Saturday, 762,361 people received an inoculation, the second highest daily number in the rollout so far.
Meanwhile, a study has found that two doses of the AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN) or the Pfizer/BioNTech jabs are 60% and 88% effective against the Indian variant, respectively.
However, they only offered 33% protection after one dose.
The vaccines are 93% and 66% effective, respectively, against the Kent variant.
The difference between the formulations after two doses may be explained by the fact that rollout of second doses of AstraZeneca was later than for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, said Public Health England (PHE), which compiled the study.
Other data on antibody profiles show it takes longer to reach maximum effectiveness with the AstraZeneca vaccine, it added.
“We expect the vaccines to be even more effective at preventing hospitalisation and death, so it is vital to get both doses to gain maximum protection against all existing and emerging variants,” said Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at PHE.
Over the weekend, AstraZeneca’s boss Pascal Soriot has hit back at criticism over the company’s handling of deliveries while commenting on the PHE study.
He said the FTSE 100 group is negotiating with the UK and other countries for contracts of booster doses.
“People are just trying to do their best. They’re just trying to produce a vaccine to save lives. It’s that simple,” Soriot told the FT.
“And then, to be criticised every day, sometimes fair criticism, sometimes by armchair generals who have opinions about everything, is really disheartening.”
Shares in AstraZeneca were flat at 8,171p on Monday at noon.