As of March 23, 2021, there have been more than 30 million confirmed COVID-19 cases in the US with a 98 percent recovery rate. Daily new cases peaked at more than 308,000 on January 8, but they have been under 100,000 every day since February 13. There are three FDA-approved vaccines for the novel coronavirus, and more than 13 percent of Americans have been fully vaccinated as of March 22. Another vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca, is awaiting FDA approval.
AstraZeneca's AZD1222 vaccine went through clinical trials in late 2020 and was determined to have a 79 percent efficacy rating in preventing symptomatic illness and offered 100 percent protection against hospitalization from the virus. Clinical trials were held at 88 centers throughout the US, Chile, and Peru, and involved more than 32,000 participants. The vaccine has already been administered in several European countries, while AstraZeneca intends to seek FDA emergency use authorization in the US. However, there are some concerns.
Potentially Outdated Trial Data
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases released a statement on March 23 citing Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) concerns about the AstraZeneca vaccine data. Specifically, the DSMB is worried AstraZeneca may have included outdated information, which, in turn, might have affected the efficacy data for the vaccine. This follows uncertainties and confusion surrounding the vaccine, such as its effectiveness at protecting senior citizens.
Link to Rare Blood Clots
Another reason for concern regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine is its potential link to rare blood clots. The vaccine has been approved in 70 countries, while more than 20 million people in the UK and European Economic Area received at least a single dose as of March 16. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) reported 25 cases of blood clots, including nine deaths, among those who had been given the vaccine. A link between blood clots and the vaccine hasn't been proven. Even if there is a link, the EMA's safety committee confirmed the benefits of the vaccine still outweigh the risk of possible side effects.
US Shipment to Canada
Canada is one of many countries that have approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for use. The US, which is well ahead of its vaccine goals for 2021, plans to send 1.5 million doses of the vaccine to its northern neighbor by the end of March. Despite concerns surrounding the vaccine, Health Canada officials recently reaffirmed their support following the EMA review.