Study shows that AstraZenaca’s COVID-19 vaccine cuts transmission of the virus

Oxford University has released a study showing the vaccine it developed with AstraZeneca cuts transmission of COVID-19 by two-thirds and prevents severe disease.

A top AstraZeneca official says no patients experienced severe disease or hospitalization three weeks after receiving a first dose, and that its effectiveness appeared to increase up to 12 weeks after the initial shot.

Some countries, including France, have authorized the vaccine for use in people under 65 only, saying there is not enough evidence to say whether it works in older adults.

Health Canada is still reviewing the drug and if gets approved Canada could get AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine within weeks.

The country could receive up to 1.1 million additional doses of it by the end of March through a global vaccine sharing initiative.

Procurement Minister Anita Anand says up to 3.2 million total doses could arrive by the end of June.

She says that would be a boost to the current six million doses expected from Pfizer and Moderna before the end of March.