Oxford Covid vaccine hit 90% success rate thanks to dosing error

[Northerner]

The Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine trials reached 90% efficacy by accident thanks to the “serendipity” of an error that led to some participants receiving half doses, it has emerged.

On Monday scientists revealed that the Oxford vaccine had an overall efficacy of 70%, but could be around 90% effective when administered as a half dose followed by a full dose a month later.

“The reason we had the half dose is serendipity,” said Mene Pangalos, executive vice-president of biopharmaceuticals research and development at AstraZeneca.

When university researchers were distributing the vaccine at the end of April, around the start of Oxford and AstraZeneca’s partnership, they noticed expected side effects such as fatigue, headaches or arm aches were milder than expected.

“So we went back and checked … and we found out that they had underpredicted the dose of the vaccine by half,” said Pangalos.

Oxford Covid vaccine hit 90% success rate thanks to dosing error

Participants given first shot at half strength by mistake were found to be better protected

www.theguardian.com

😱 🙂

 

[pm133]

This happens more often than you'd think.
History is littered with scientific advances which were discovered entirely by accident or error.

The discovery of penicillin was just incredible! All because one guy couldn't keep his lab clean.

Post-it sticky notes was also a failed experiment to create a strong glue.

Then there was, of course, Viagra which I think was meant for heart patients.

 

[trophywench]

LOL = metformin was designed as a weight loss drug - then doctors noticed that the overweight diabetic patients received the side effect as well a losing weight, of lower glycosylated haemoglobin results = Bingo!!