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UAE Covid vaccine: Jab 'highly effective' on elderly, study confirms

Dubai - The data revealed that the protection from Covid infection 35 days after taking the first dose is slightly better for the AstreZeneca vaccine than for Pfizer.

As the UAE carries out its vaccination campaign with a focus on the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, more positive developments are emerging in terms of the efficacy of the vaccines.

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A recent study found that Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca jabs — which are both available in Dubai — were “highly effective” in reducing Covid infections and severe complications among elderly people in the UK. They have reportedly helped reduce hospitalisation by more than 80 to 94 per cent.

In those over 80 years old, a single dose of either of the vaccines was found to be more than 80 per cent effective in preventing hospitalisation, according to a Public Health England (PHE) real-world study that has gathered data since January. Also, a single dose of Pfizer is 85 per cent effective at preventing Covid-19 deaths.

The detailed data revealed that the protection from Covid 19 infection 35 days after taking the first dose is slightly better for the Oxford-AstreZeneca vaccine than for Pfizer.

Explaining the efficacy of both the vaccines, Dr Gunjan Mahajan, clinical pathologist at Burjeel Hospital for Advanced Surgery, Dubai, said: “With Pfizer, vaccine effectiveness reached 61 per cent from 28 to 34 days after vaccination then plateaued. While, with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, effects were seen from Day 14 onwards until Day 20 after the vaccination.

“The effectiveness of the vaccine reached 60 per cent in between Day 28 and Day 34 after taking the jab; and further shot up to 73 per cent from Day 35 onwards. These findings corroborate that vaccination is reducing the risk of infection.”

Dr Mahajan said the two vaccines have different compositions. “The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is based on the virus’ genetic instructions for building the spike protein. But unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which stores the instructions in single-stranded RNA, the Oxford vaccine uses double-stranded DNA. Also, in Oxford- AstraZeneca, the researchers added the DNA for the coronavirus spike protein to another virus called an adenovirus. Additionally, DNA is not as fragile as RNA, and the adenovirus’s tough protein coat helps protect the genetic material inside. As a result, the Oxford vaccine doesn’t have to stay frozen. The vaccine is expected to last for at least six months when refrigerated at 38–46°F (2–8°C),” she explained.

saman@khaleejtimes.com