WHO still saying AZ vaccine is safe and effective

The Oxford/AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1-S [recombinant] vaccine) COVID-19 vaccine: what you need to know

https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/the-oxford-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-what-you-need-to-know

The vaccine is safe and effective for all individuals aged 18 and above.

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health/astrazeneca-covid-vaccine

Is the AstraZeneca vaccine still being used in the UK?

No, the UK government is not ordering future supplies of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

Evidence shows that mRNA vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna, are more effective at boosting protection from Covid-19,

so these vaccines are being recommended for the autumn booster programme.

Yellow cards

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions/coronavirus-vaccine-summary-of-yellow-card-reporting

COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca

https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/idaps/CHADOX1%20NCOV-19

Essential context

https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/idaps/CHADOX1%20NCOV-19

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)

Yellow card scheme, Don’t wait for someone else to report it

https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/yellow-card-please-help-to-reverse-the-decline-in-reporting-of-suspected-adverse-drug-reactions

Only 10% of serious reactions reported

Only 2 and 4% of non-serious reactions are reported via yellow cards.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/deathsbyvaccinationstatusengland

Deaths by vaccination status

mRNA Vaccine, serious adverse events of special

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36055877/

3.4. Harm-benefit considerations

In the Moderna trial

One in 662

In the Pfizer trial

One in 990

Combined

One in 800

(over placebo baselines)

Latest risk figures from UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) presentation to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1131409/appendix-1-of-jcvi-statement-on-2023-covid-19-vaccination-programme-8-november-2022.pdf

Table 3: NNV for prevention of hospitalisation (and severe hospitalisation) for different programmes

20 – 29 Years, Autumn booster

No risk group, 169,200 (706,500)

In a risk group, 7,500 (59,500)

50 – 59 Years, Autumn booster

No risk group, 43,600 (256,400)

In a risk group, 3,100 (18,600)

ONS, death data, W/E 27th January

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/weekending27january2023

Deaths registered in the UK was 15,953

2.1% above the five-year average (321 excess deaths)

Some profits

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/drug-companies-face-covid-cliff-2023-sales-set-plummet-2023-02-06/

Western drugmakers are estimated to have brought in about $100 billion in revenue in 2022.