AstraZeneca releases results of phase three U.S. trial

AstraZeneca released results from its U.S. phase three vaccine trial on Monday.

The company says its vaccine is 79 per cent effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and 100 per cent effective in preventing severe disease and hospitalization.

The results pave the way for AstraZeneca to apply for an emergency use authorization from the FDA, which the company says it will do next month.

The AstraZeneca vaccine has been the subject of much international scrutiny and backlash after several people who received the shot developed blood clots.

A handful of countries suspended its use, but at least four reinstated it after a review from the European Medicines Agency found no elevated risk of clotting.

Officials in Canada have reaffirmed their support for the shot.

READ: Health officials reassuring Canadians the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe

“Based on the information to date, Health Canada confirms that the benefits of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, in protecting Canadians from the severe outcomes of COVID-19, continue to outweigh any risks,” the agency said.

1.5-million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine are due to arrive from the U.S. by the end of the month.

READ: U.S. to lend doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to Canada, Mexico