Duplicated with this one in the top? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25184331

Note there is some confusion in the efficacy rates reported by the media.

https://twitter.com/covidvaxnews/status/1330783886830256128?...

I really don’t get the point of averaging two different dose regimens when only one of the two will be used in practice. The real news here is 90% efficacy, plus it will get even easier to mass produce because it will only require a half dose the first time.

Obviously they'll be a bit disappointed with those numbers, but I think the article undersells how big a difference the ease of storage will make. It requires a fridge instead of specialist cold chain equipment.

And production licenced to more-local manufacturers around the world too, with orders for considerably more doses than Pfizer & Moderna combined:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-22/astra-oxf...

Also considerably cheaper, even before the savings from easier storage/transport.

Weird IMO that all the headlines so far seem to be focusing on the efficacy.

Cheaper because I believe they’re not making any profit, which is nice!

n=2,741 for the 90% efficacy dosing regime (involving a lower dose)

n=8,895 for the 62% efficacy variant

From my point of view, this is all very encouraging and actually lets me find redeeming qualities in this whole Corona crisis. While the SARS-COV-2 virus is certainly not to be trifled with, it's easy to imagine more serious virus outbreaks and I think after this pandemic is over, we will be capable of developing effective vaccines for many viruses in 6 months which would make us much more resilient in the future.

Correct me if I'm wrong but they ran 2 tests, and if you give someone a half a dose, wait a while then give a full dose, it's 90% effective?

So calling 70% is inaccurate?

ref: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-23/astrazeneca-oxford-co...

Yeah, this seems to be an average of 2 different dosing regimes, one of which was 90% effective.

Won't they have to do another trial for that effectiveness number to be official ? Otherwise the other manufacturers could have announced results earlier, due to having to wait for fewer infections.

From the article: "There is also intriguing data that suggests perfecting the dose could increase protection up to 90%."

I am curious about the up to 90% claim, what doest this mean?

Isn't it 90% or not?

Yeah it’s funny language isn’t it. Like a sale that’s ‘up to half price’.