AstraZeneca to fast-track release of vaccine data after efficacy row

The US criticism is a distraction that might further undermine confidence in the vaccine, leading immunisation researchers say
Dr Anthony Fauci.

AstraZeneca has promised to release the full findings from its latest COVID-19 vaccine trial after a row broke out about the ‘incompleteness’ of the data.

In what leading infectious diseases experts are concerned is another setback to confidence in the vaccine, the trial’s independent data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) said the data released via a press release on Monday were outdated.

AstraZeneca responded with a pledge to publish the findings from its primary analysis “within 48 hours”.

“The numbers published yesterday were based on a prespecified interim analysis with a data cut-off of 17 February,” it said in a short statement on Tuesday.