Oxford University defends $180MM donation from Vietnamese billionaire 'Madame Thao' amid investigation
Oxford Universityโs Linacre College is defending its acceptance of a $180 million donation from Vietnamโs first self-made woman billionaire, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao. Nguyen, widely known as Madam Thao, is Vietnamโs first and only woman billionaire who began her career selling fax machines and latex rubber as a student in Russia, which was then the Soviet Union. On Oct. 31, 2020, Nguyen donated the $180 million to Linacre College through her holding company Sovico Group.
news.yahoo.comUniversity of Michigan student from Grand Rapids named 2022 Rhodes Scholar
ANN ARBOR, MI - A University of Michigan student is one of 32 Americans to be named a 2022 Rhodes Scholar, earning a scholarship to Oxford University. Rachael Merritt, of Grand Rapids, a senior in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts double majoring in Russian and international studies, is the 30th UM student to earn the distinction as a Rhodes Scholar since the awards were established in 1902.
mlive.comBlood clots more likely in people with COVID-19 infections than vaccines, study shows
Research from Oxford University in England has new data regarding the rate of blood clotting cases in COVID-19 patients and vaccine recipients. The study, which has not been peer-reviewed yet, shows that the particular blood clot which was studied is eight to ten times more common in people who experience a COVID-19 infection than in people who were inoculated. Dr. David Agus joins "CBS This Morning" to explain the latest development.
cbsnews.com1 in 3 Covid survivors are diagnosed with conditions like anxiety and insomnia after recovery โ here's what Covid does to your brain
New research found that the likelihood of people being diagnosed with a neurological or mental health disorder following Covid-19 infection was 34%. Here's why.
cnbc.comAstraZeneca says trial data from U.S. study on its COVID-19 vaccine shows it's 79% effective
AstraZeneca says trial data from U.S. study on its COVID-19 vaccine shows it's 79% effective AstraZeneca says advanced trial data from a U.S. study on the COVID-19 vaccine it developed along with Oxford University shows it is 79% effective in preventing symptomatic illness and 100% effective against severe illness and hospitalization. Dr. David Agus joined "CBS This Morning" to explain more.
cbsnews.comAstraZeneca says advanced trial shows its COVID-19 vaccine is 79% effective
Scientists found no increased risk of clots among the more than 20,000 people who got at least one dose of the AstraZeneca shot. AstraZeneca said the advanced trial data on the vaccine it developed along with Oxford University shows it is 79% effective. In a statement, AstraZeneca said its vaccine had a 79% efficacy rate at preventing symptomatic COVID and was 100% effective in stopping severe disease and hospitalization. "It's exciting to see similar efficacy results in people over 65 for the first time." Julian Tang, a virologist at the university of Leicester who was unconnected to the study, described it as "good news" for the AstraZeneca vaccine.
cbsnews.comItaly and France ready to restart AstraZeneca vaccinations if regulators give the green light
A vial of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is seen at the Lochee Health Centre in Dundee, Scotland, Britain January 4, 2021. Andy Buchanan| Pool | ReutersLONDON โ France and Italy say they are ready to quickly restart inoculation programs with the AstraZeneca vaccine if regulators confirm it's still safe to use. It added that in the event of a positive conclusion by the EMA, France and Italy were ready "to promptly restart" inoculations with the vaccine. Since then, more countries have reported cases of blood clots and an unusual number of platelets in a few patients. The EMA said Tuesday that there is "no indication" so far that the reports of blood clots were directly caused by the vaccine.
cnbc.comAstraZeneca defends COVID vaccine as handful of nations pause use over fear of blood clots
Thai authorities put the COVID-19 vaccine on hold over concerns that it could cause fatal blood clots, following similar decisions by Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Bulgaria. Austria stopped using doses of one batch of the vaccine on Sunday after a 49-year-old nurse died of "severe blood coagulation problems" after receiving the shot. On Friday, the Congo also put the roll-out of the vaccine on hold, citing the European nations' moves. The head of the Oxford Vaccine Group, Andrew Pollard, said real-world data from the U.K.'s mass-vaccination program recently showed a 94% drop in hospital admissions for those who have received the Oxford vaccine โ even more impressive figures than with the Pfizer formula. Professor Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and a professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity, receives the Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from nurse Sam Foster at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, England, January 4, 2021.
cbsnews.comThe Latest: New Zealand opens 1st big vaccination clinic
New Zealand has opened its first large vaccination clinic as it scales up efforts to protect people from the coronavirus. (New Zealand Ministry of Health via AP)WELLINGTON, New Zealand โ New Zealand has opened its first large vaccination clinic as it scales up efforts to protect people from the coronavirus. Gordon cites Wyomingโs declining number of COVID-19 cases and its success in distributing vaccines as reasons to lift the restrictions. AdThe nation of 1.3 million has seen a rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 cases n the past few weeks. Italyโs total virus cases surpassed 3 million last week, with a new surge powered by the highly contagious variant that was first identified in Britain.
One of the strongest weapons against COVID-19 variants may be a vaccine the FDA hasn't approved yet
London โ One of the strongest weapons against the troubling number of new coronavirus variants in the United States and worldwide may be one vaccine the FDA hasn't approved yet. The ability to turn on a dime is down to the "plug and play" platform used in the original Oxford vaccine, Gilbert said. "We make the first seed of stock of the vaccine in the manufacturing facility in Oxford. "Astonishing" impactEven before modification, Oxford scientists say their vaccine is highly effective in tackling the runaway variant first discovered in the United Kingdom. "We've seen the first widespread use of a vaccine in a setting where there's been a new variant that's emerged," Oxford Vaccine Group head Andrew Pollard told CBS News.
cbsnews.comOne of the strongest weapons against COVID-19 variants may be a vaccine the FDA hasn't approved yet
London โ One of the strongest weapons against the troubling number of new coronavirus variants in the United States and worldwide may be one vaccine the FDA hasn't approved yet. The ability to turn on a dime is down to the "plug and play" platform used in the original Oxford vaccine, Gilbert said. "We make the first seed of stock of the vaccine in the manufacturing facility in Oxford. "Astonishing" impactEven before modification, Oxford scientists say their vaccine is highly effective in tackling the runaway variant first discovered in the United Kingdom. "We've seen the first widespread use of a vaccine in a setting where there's been a new variant that's emerged," Oxford Vaccine Group head Andrew Pollard told CBS News.
cbsnews.comDoctor on COVID vaccine trial for children
Doctor on COVID vaccine trial for children Dr. Dyan Hes, the founder of Gramercy Pediatrics in New York City, joined CBSN to discuss the latest COVID-19 headlines including Oxford University and AstraZeneca testing their vaccine for children ages 6-17, plus steps for getting kids back to school safely amid the pandemic.
cbsnews.comDoctor on COVID vaccine trial for children
Doctor on COVID vaccine trial for children Dr. Dyan Hes, the founder of Gramercy Pediatrics in New York City, joins CBSN to discuss the latest COVID-19 headlines including Oxford University and AstraZeneca testing their vaccine for children ages 6-17, plus steps for getting kids back to school safely amid the pandemic.
cbsnews.comSouth Africa suspends AstraZeneca vaccine drive
South Africa received its first 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine last week and was expected to begin giving jabs to health care workers in mid-February. The disappointing early results indicate that an inoculation drive using the AstraZeneca vaccine may not be useful. Preliminary data from a small study suggested that the AstraZeneca vaccine offers only โminimal protection against mild-moderate disease" caused by the variant in South Africa. AdโThe AstraZeneca vaccine appeared effective against the original strain, but not against the variant,โ Mkhize said. The international COVAX initiative has bought the AstraZeneca vaccine in bulk from the Serum Institute of India.
The Latest: China's northeast outbreaks appear under control
Cambodia on Sunday received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine, a donation of 600,000 doses from China, the country's biggest ally. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)BEIJING โ China appears to have stamped out its latest coronavirus outbreaks centered on the northeast, reporting no new cases of local infection in its latest daily report. ___TEHRAN, Iran โ Iran has unveiled its second homemade coronavirus vaccine and says it has begun human trials, state TV reported Sunday. ___JAKARTA, Indonesia โ Indonesiaโs Food and Drug Authority has announced an emergency use authorization to give the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Chinaโs Sinovac Biotech Ltd. to people over 60. ___KABUL, Afghanistan โ Some 500,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine arrived Sunday in Afghanistan from the government in India.
The Latest: Sri Lankan officials say vaccinations advancing
FILE - In this Jan. 29, 2021, file photo, Sri Lankan nursing staff administer COVID-19 vaccines to front-line health workers in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Reynolds issued the earlier restrictions in November when hospitals were struggling to care for a surge of coronavirus patients. Officials say it could help up to four COVID-19 patients. ___LISBON, Portugal โ Portugal has set a new daily record for COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care with 904 patients on Friday. AdThe Austrian government offered to take in five COVID-19 patients and five non-COVID patients to relieve Portuguese hospitals.
Britain to test mixing and matching of COVID-19 vaccines
(AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)British scientists are starting a study Thursday to find out if it's OK to mix and match COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccines being rolled out now require two doses, and people are supposed to get two shots of the same kind, weeks apart. Participants in the government-funded study will get one shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine followed by a dose from Pfizer, or vice versa. Some immunologists credit the fact that the vaccine uses two slightly different shots, made with similar technology to AstraZeneca's. If the vaccines can be used interchangeably, "this will greatly increase the flexibility of vaccine delivery," he said in a statement.
Study finds COVID-19 vaccine may reduce virus transmission
Astra Zeneca vaccine waits for injection at the homeless accommodation YMCA in Romford, east London, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. In a study carried out but the Oxford University, the Astra Zeneca vaccine has been shown to stop also the transmission of the virus. But it was unclear whether the vaccines could also suppress transmission of the virus โ that is, whether someone inoculated could still acquire the virus without getting sick and spread it to others. AdOxford's study, however, found that the vaccine not only prevented severe disease but appeared to cut transmission of the virus by two-thirds. Meanwhile, a U.N.-backed program to supply COVID-19 vaccines to the neediest people worldwide is gearing up after a troubled start.
UK says new study vindicates delaying 2nd virus vaccine shot
Britain's Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Wednesday a new study suggesting that a single dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine may reduce transmission of COVID-19 categorically supports the government's strategy of taking more time between injections. Some countries, including France, have authorized the AstraZeneca vaccine only for use in people under 65, saying there is not enough evidence to say whether it works in older adults. AdBritain has Europe's deadliest coronavirus outbreak, with more than 108,000 deaths, and is in its third national lockdown as authorities try to contain a new, more transmissible virus variant first identified in southeast England. AdThat is a worry as the U.K. races to vaccinate its own population against the virus. Pollard said Oxford scientists believe the AstraZeneca vaccine will continue to offer protection against new variants of COVID-19, although they are still waiting for data on that.
EU regulator authorizes AstraZeneca vaccine for all adults
The European Medicines Agency is expected on Friday Jan. 29, 2021 to authorize use of the vaccine AstraZeneca developed with Oxford University. The shot is the third COVID-19 vaccine given the green light by the European Medicines Agency after ones by Pfizer and Moderna. A separate study testing the AstraZeneca vaccine in the U.S. is still underway. The EU has particularly lashed out at AstraZeneca after the drugmaker said it would initially supply less vaccine than originally anticipated. AdThe AstraZeneca vaccine has already been authorized in more than 40 countries, including Britain, India, Argentina and Mexico.
Tensions rise as AstraZeneca, EU spar over vaccine delays
The EU has asked AstraZeneca for permission to release the contract, Kyriakides said. The EUโs drug regulator will consider the AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday. โThis is this is really, really bad news โ not only bad news for the European countries involved,'' he said. Soriot said AstraZeneca had to reduce deliveries to the EU because plants in Europe had lower than expected yields from the biological process used to produce the vaccine. โThere are a lot of emotions running in this process right now, and I can understand it: people want vaccine,โ Soriot said.
5 killed in blaze at Indian producer of COVID-19 vaccine
Smoke rises from the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine maker that is manufacturing the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine for the coronavirus, in Pune, India, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)PUNE โ At least five people were killed in a fire that broke out Thursday at a building under construction at Serum Institute of India, the worldโs largest vaccine manufacturer, officials said. The company said the blaze would not affect production of the COVID-19 vaccine. Poonawalla said in an interview with The Associated Press last month that it hopes to increase production capacity from 1.5 billion doses to 2.5 billion doses per year by the end of 2021. As a result, Serum Institute is likely to make most of the vaccines that will be used by developing nations.
U.K. opens mass-vaccination centers in race to curb surging COVID-19 infections
As he reports, one big difference between the vaccination efforts in the U.S. and the U.K., is organization. Everyone who shows up at the vaccination centers in Britain has received a letter inviting them to make an appointment. "No, my mother's been desperate to have it," Lucinda Cooper told CBS News as she accompanied her 80-year-old mom, Nicola Young, to the Epsom racecourse. Seven super-vaccination centers opened across the U.K. this week, adding to 200 hospitals and hundreds of doctor's offices already administering vaccinations. More than 82,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the U.K. โ the deadliest outbreak in Europe.
cbsnews.comWayne County to host public COVID-19 vaccine update
FILE - In this Saturday Jan. 2, 2021 file photo, doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and U.K.-based drugmaker AstraZeneca are checked as they arrive at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, England. Britain races to vaccinate more than 15 million people by mid-February, and in an effort to ensure vaccines get to the right places at the right times, along with the syringes, alcohol swabs and protective equipment needed to administer them, the government has called in the army. (Gareth Fuller/Pool via AP, File)
EU regulator is considering Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine
A healthcare worker fills a syringe with the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at the vaccine centre that has been set up in central Newcastle, Scotland Monday Jan. 11, 2021. Britain gave its approval to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine last month and has been using it. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is expected to be a key vaccine for many countries because of its low cost, availability and ease of use. Researchers claim the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine protected against disease in 62% of those given two full doses and in 90% of those initially given a half dose because of a manufacturing error. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it won't consider approving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine until data are available from late state research testing the shot in about 30,000 people.
Moderna coronavirus vaccine becomes the third approved for use in the UK
A worker of the New York City Fire Department Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (FDNY EMS) receives a COVID-19 Moderna vaccine, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., December 23, 2020. LONDON โ The U.K.'s medicines regulator approved Moderna's coronavirus vaccine on Friday for emergency use in the country. It comes as the U.K. battles a more contagious strain of the virus, which has prompted an alarming surge of infections and deaths nationwide and resulted in a third lockdown. In a release, the country's Department of Health said the Moderna vaccine meets the "strict standards of safety, efficacy and quality" of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. It added that the U.K. had ordered an extra 10 million doses of the vaccine, taking its total to 17 million.
cnbc.comDutch begin COVID-19 vaccinations; last EU nation to do so
The Dutch government has come under fierce criticism for its late start to vaccinations. Prime Minister Mark Rutte told lawmakers in a debate Tuesday that authorities had focused preparations on the easy-to-handle vaccine made by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, which hasn't yet been cleared for use in the EU, and not the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. โThe Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which requires ultra-cold storage before it's used, is the only shot that has been approved so far by the European Medicines Agency. Andre Rouvoet, chairman of the umbrella organization of local health authorities, welcomed the first vaccinations, which were aired live on Dutch television. โIt is symbolic of the hundreds of thousands โ millions โ of vaccinations that will be administered in the Netherlands in coming months,โ he said.
The Latest: Australia moves up vaccination start to February
(AP Photo/Mark Baker)CANBERRA, Australia โ Australia is advancing the start of its coronavirus vaccination program to mid-February, with plans to inoculate 15% of the population by late March. Mexicoโs vaccination effort continues at a glacial rate, with about 7,500 shots administered Wednesday, a rate similar to previous days. John Bel Edwards and public health officials said Wednesday that efforts are being made to speed up vaccinations for the coronavirus. So far, state officials have administered 126,602 of the 522,550 doses the state has received. More than 329,000 people have been vaccinated in Florida โ or about 1.5% of the population โ almost all of them either health care workers, residents in care homes, or people over the age of 65.
Oxford-Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine rolls out in the United Kingdom
People were told to work from home unless itโs impossible to do so, and leave home only for essential trips. As of Monday, there were 26,626 COVID-19 patients in hospitals in England, an increase of more than 30% from a week ago. Britain has secured the rights to 100 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which is cheaper and easier to use than some of its rivals. Brian Pinker, an 82-year-old dialysis patient, received the first Oxford-AstraZeneca shot early Monday at Oxford University Hospital. While two doses are required to fully protect against COVID-19, both vaccines provide high levels of protection after the first dose, the committee said.
COVID vaccines "might not" work as well on South African strain, scientists warn
Johannesburg, South Africa โ The new coronavirus variant identified in South Africa poses even more of a risk than the strain discovered several weeks ago in England, Britain's top health official warned on Monday. His alarm came as scientists warned that the new strain sweeping through South African coastal communities could be resistant to the COVID-19 vaccines approved or awaiting approval in the U.S. and Europe. "I'm incredibly worried about the South African variant," Health Secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Radio. Glenda Grey, President of the South African Medical Research Council and lead of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine trial team, confirmed that their trial also included giving participants doses amid the outbreak of the new strain. The Oxford vaccine was trialed at seven different sites across South Africa in 2,100 volunteers, while some 45,000 people were involved in the Johnson and Johnson trial.
cbsnews.comCOVID vaccines "might not" work as well on South African strain, scientists warn
Johannesburg, South Africa โ The new coronavirus variant identified in South Africa poses even more of a risk than the strain discovered several weeks ago in England, Britain's top health official warned on Monday. His alarm came as scientists warned that the new strain sweeping through South African coastal communities could be resistant to the COVID-19 vaccines approved or awaiting approval in the U.S. and Europe. "I'm incredibly worried about the South African variant," Health Secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Radio. Glenda Grey, President of the South African Medical Research Council and lead of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine trial team, confirmed that their trial also included giving participants doses amid the outbreak of the new strain. The Oxford vaccine was trialed at seven different sites across South Africa in 2,100 volunteers, while some 45,000 people were involved in the Johnson and Johnson trial.
cbsnews.comVaccination drive enters new phase in US and Britain
82-year-old Brian Pinker receives the Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from nurse Sam Foster at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, England, Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. The second round of shots began in various locations around the country as the U.S. death toll surpassed 352,000. Britain, meanwhile, became the first nation to start using the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, ramping up its nationwide inoculation campaign amid soaring infection rates blamed on the new variant. Elsewhere around the world, France and other parts of Europe have come under fire over slow vaccine rollouts and delays. The European Union likewise faced growing criticism about the slow rollout of COVID-19 shots across the 27-nation bloc of 450 million inhabitants.
UK prime minister orders new virus lockdown for England
People were told to work from home unless it's impossible to do so, and leave home only for essential trips. All nonessential shops and personal care services like hairdressers will be closed, and restaurants can only operate takeout services. As of Monday, there were 26,626 COVID-19 patients in hospitals in England, an increase of more than 30% from a week ago. Authorities have recorded more than 50,000 new infections daily since passing that milestone for the first time on Dec. 29. London and large areas of southeast England were put under the highest level of restrictions in mid-December, and more regions soon joined them.
The Latest: Japan's prime minister weighs state of emergency
Yuriko Koike is asking the national government to declare a โstate of emergencyโ to curtail surging coronavirus infections. State health officials reported 12,563 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals on Sunday, an increase of more than 240 from Saturday. It was the sixth time in seven days that the state reported record-breaking hospitalizations. Intensive care units in several parts of the state were full or nearly full Sunday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Andrew Cuomo says the state has recorded more than 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began.
Most of England to greet 2021 under strictest virus measures
A mask on the pavement near the entrance of a hospital on Westminster Bridge in London, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. The move will severely curtail New Year's Eve celebrations in parts of England that are home to 44 million people, or 78% of the population. The U.K. also reported Wednesday that another 981 people with the coronavirus had died. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said secondary schools in England would not resume in-person teaching until Jan. 11. Most primary schools will welcome students back on Monday as planned, although not the ones in some virus hotspots, including a big chunk of London.
Eye Opener: U.K. approves emergency use of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
Eye Opener: U.K. approves emergency use of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine Britain announced that the vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca has been approved. Also, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell shot down a quick vote to increase direct payments to the American people. All that and all that matters in todayโs Eye Opener. Your world in 90 seconds.
cbsnews.comU.K. approves emergency use of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
The COVID-19 vaccine developed in Britain by Oxford University and AstraZeneca has been approved by the U.K. government for emergency use, the pharmaceutical company announced early Wednesday morning. "We'll get going on this from Monday," U.K. Health Secretary Matt Hancock told CBS News partner network BBC News. Hancock said that longer time window to give the second dose would be "very helpful" in facilitating mass-vaccination efforts. It is truly fantastic news - and a triumph for British science - that the @UniofOxford /@AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved for use. "Today is an important day for millions of people in the U.K. who will get access to this new vaccine," AstraZeneca boss Soriot said in a statement.
cbsnews.comBritain tries to cool AstraZeneca concerns as its CEO touts a new vaccine trial
LONDON โ Government ministers and experts in Britain have openly backed a coronavirus vaccine from AstraZeneca and Oxford University, after doubts were raised in the U.S. this week. "We have now written to the body that will independently assess the veracity and the safety of the vaccine." The U.K. government's top scientific advisor, Patrick Vallance, said the focus should be on the fact that the vaccine actually works when asked about doubts regarding the trial. Pascal Soriot, the CEO of AstraZeneca, confirmed to Bloomberg on Thursday that the British pharmaceutical giant will likely run an additional global trial to evaluate the efficacy of its Covid-19 vaccine. Shares slideShares of AstraZeneca dipped again on Friday and have fallen by nearly 7% since its trial results were released on Monday morning.
cnbc.comAstrazeneca, Oxford University says COVID-19 vaccine 62 to 90% effective depending on dosage
After a Phase 3 trial, officials said a vaccine from Oxford University and Astrazeneca pharmaceutical company is up to 90% effective. The results were based on trials in the United Kingdom and Brazil before the trials start in the United States. When the vaccine was given as a half dose followed by a full dose at least a month later, it was 90% effective. READ: FDA grants emergency use authorization for Regeneronโs COVID-19 antibody cocktailKaul said the University of Michigan has been enrolling patients in the trial for several weeks now. โWhile thereโs a lot of controversy around vaccines, there really isnโt any controversy around vaccines in the medical community.
3rd major COVID-19 vaccine shown to be effective and cheaper
No hospitalizations or severe cases of COVID-19 were reported in those receiving the vaccine. Earlier this month, rival drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna reported preliminary results from late-stage trials showing their vaccines were almost 95% effective. The AstraZeneca vaccine is also cheaper. A half-dose of the vaccine followed by a full dose at least one month later was 90% effective. The AstraZeneca trials were paused earlier this year after a participant in the U.K. study reported a rare neurological illness.
Oxford trial chief says its Covid vaccine could still be ready at a similar time to others
CSL will begin manufacturing AstraZeneca-Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine from Monday. Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said the researchers were "really delighted" with the findings, adding he was "optimistic" phase three data would be made available before Christmas. LONDON โ The coronavirus vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca could still be made available at a similar time to the other leading candidates , according to the head of Oxford's vaccine trial. Early results from the phase three trials will determine the effectiveness of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Separately, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have already published preliminary data from their respective phase three trials, and both have proven to be highly protective against Covid infection.
cnbc.comAcademics, video game makers team up in rare collaboration
LONDON โ A study by Oxford University researchers on how playing video games affects mental health used data from video game makers, marking what the authors say is a rare collaboration between academics and the game industry. Lack of transparency from game makers has long been an issue for scientists hoping to better understand player behaviors. The video game industry has previously been reluctant to work with independent scientists, the paper noted. Such partnerships might be needed for future research on the booming video game industry. โThis is correlational data, and so we cannot estimate the causal effect of video games on well-being," said Hilgard.
EU agency starts 'rolling review' to speed OK for vaccine
LONDON โ The European Medicines Agency has started a โrolling reviewโ process for the COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, a move it hopes will speed any eventual approval. In a statement Thursday, the EU regulator said instead of waiting for all of the required vaccine data to be submitted before beginning its assessment, the EMA has begun analyzing the preliminary information from scientists on the Oxford vaccine. That data suggests the vaccine โtriggers the production of antibodies and T-Cells,โ referring to immune system cells that target the virus. Last month, Britain's trial of the Oxford vaccine was paused for several days after a U.K. woman in the trial reported severe neurological symptoms. In August, Russia became the first country in the world to license its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.
The Latest: India's cases rise to 4.75M with another spike
(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)NEW DELHI โ India has registered a single-day spike of 94,372 new confirmed coronavirus cases, driving the countryโs overall tally to 4.75 million. Johns Hopkins University data analyzed by The Associated Press showed drops in seven-day rolling averages of daily new cases and daily deaths over the past two weeks. The average of daily deaths went from 488 on Aug. 28 to 299 on Friday while the average of daily deaths dropped from 15 to 9. The health department says in the three weeks before the surge, only 23 people affiliated with the university had tested positive. ___ANCHORAGE, Alaska โ Anchorage will receive federal support to aid in lessening the coronavirus outbreak in its homeless population.
Oxford, AstraZeneca to resume coronavirus vaccine trial
LONDON โ Oxford University says trials of a coronavirus vaccine that it is developing with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca will resume, days after being paused due to a reported side-effect in a patient in the U.K. The study had been previously stopped in July for several days after a participant who got the vaccine developed neurological symptoms; it turned out to be an undiagnosed case of multiple sclerosis that was unrelated to the vaccine. Late last month, AstraZeneca began recruiting 30,000 people in the U.S. for its largest study of the vaccine. It also is testing the vaccine in thousands of people in Britain, and in smaller studies in Brazil and South Africa. Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the World Health Organizationโs chief scientist, said the U.N. health agency wasnโt overly concerned by the pause in the Oxford and AstraZeneca vaccine trial, describing it as โa wake-up callโ to the global community about the inevitable ups and downs of medical research.
University of Michigan seeks volunteers for COVID-19 vaccine testing
ANN ARBOR, Mich. Metro Detroit is now the site of four COVID-19 vaccine trials. The latest is being conducted at the University of Michigan and involves a vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. Sept. 2, 2020: Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases up to 103,710; Death toll now at 6,509The university said 30,000 volunteers will be needed to test the vaccine. We definitely want to have people participate who reflect the people in the community who are getting COVID and are getting sick with COVID, Kaul said. For more information, or to volunteer for the vaccine trial, click here.
U.S. orders 300 million doses of potential COVID-19 vaccine
FILE PHOTO: Small bottles labeled with a "Vaccine COVID-19" sticker and a medical syringe are seen in this illustration taken taken April 10, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo(Reuters) - The U.S. government has ordered 300 million doses of a potential COVID-19 virus being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and hopes first doses can be made available by October, the Department of Health and Human Services said on Thursday. This contract with AstraZeneca is a major milestone in Operation Warp Speeds work toward a safe, effective, widely available vaccine by 2021, HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.
feeds.reuters.comNicholas Johnson makes Princeton history: First black valedictorian in 274 years
ASBURY PARK, N.J. A Canadian student has made history after becoming Princeton's first black valedictorian in the university's 274 years, the Ivy League school said in a statement. Nicholas Johnson, 22, was told in late April that he will be the first black student to give the university's closing farewell statement in a virtual commencement on May 31, according to school officials. Being Princetons first black valedictorian is very empowering, especially given its historical ties to the institution of slavery, Johnson said to The New York Times. Prior to his senior year, Johnson worked at Google's headquarters in California as a software engineer focusing on machine learning. About 9% of Princeton's 2019-2020 undergraduate population is black, according to the school's website.
monroenews.comA choir of angels
The young boys in the Choir of New College at Oxford University, founded in 1379, live two lives: one as normal children, and the other as world-class singers. Martha Teichner visits with the musical director Edward Higginbottom, and with the boys whose angelic singing continues a tradition older than America.
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