[ti:Study: AstraZeneca Vaccine Greatly Reduces Virus Transmission Rate]
[by:www.21voa.com]
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[00:00.04]A new study suggests the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
[00:08.00]cuts transmission of the virus
[00:11.36]by two-thirds and prevents severe disease.
[00:16.92]Oxford University released the results on Wednesday.
[00:23.28]The research has not yet been peer reviewed,
[00:27.36]meaning other scientists have not examined it.
[00:32.12]But, Britain’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock
[00:36.88]told broadcaster Sky News
[00:39.76]the findings are “very good news.”
[00:44.56]Hancock said the latest results
[00:47.84]showed the AstraZeneca vaccine
[00:51.12]slows spread of the virus by about 66 percent.
[00:57.84]He added that the study also found the vaccine injections
[01:03.20]were highly protective after a single dose.
[01:09.00]The head of research and development for AstraZeneca,
[01:13.72]Mene Pangalos, told reporters no patients had experienced
[01:19.60]severe disease or hospitalization
[01:22.92]three weeks after receiving a first dose.
[01:28.48]The effectiveness of the vaccine appeared to increase
[01:33.24]up to 12 weeks after the first shot, he added.
[01:38.76]The European Medicines Agency
[01:41.84]approved the vaccine for adults of all ages last week.
[01:47.36]However, most of the subjects involved
[01:50.96]in the AstraZeneca vaccine trials were under 55 years old.
[01:58.16]Italy and Belgium have approved use of the vaccine in adults under 55.
[02:05.64]Belgium’s health minister
[02:07.80]said there was not enough information available
[02:11.64]to be sure to say that it is good” for older individuals.
[02:17.36]Poland is permitting use in adults up to age 60.
[02:22.64]And Germany, Italy, and Sweden
[02:26.00]have approved its use for people 18 to 65 years old.
[02:32.40]The new Oxford study found
[02:35.08]that those who were given a single dose of the vaccine
[02:38.96]were 67 percent less likely to test positive for COVID-19.
[02:47.00]This suggests the possibility
[02:49.96]"for a substantial reduction in transmission," it said.
[02:56.08]The study provides support for Britain’s campaign
[03:00.48]to treat as many high-risk groups as possible
[03:04.64]with a first dose of the vaccine.
[03:08.08]The country is providing second injections 12 weeks after the first.
[03:14.24]It argues that the delay will help protect more people quickly.
[03:20.00]Some experts disagree.
[03:22.72]The other vaccine already in use in Britain is from Pfizer-BioNTech.
[03:29.92]That medicine is advised for use in two doses given three weeks apart.
[03:37.60]But, Health Secretary Hancock said Wednesday
[03:41.44]that Britain believes a 12-week period is the right plan for both vaccines.
[03:49.04]The Oxford study involved more than 17,000 people
[03:54.08]in Britain, Brazil and South Africa.
[03:58.44]I’m Bryan Lynn. 更多听力请访问21VOA.COM