Oxford University - The African Mirror

Apr

2023

More African countries set to approve malaria shot; 20 million doses ready in 2023

JENNIFER RIGBY AFRICAN countries are lining up to approve a new vaccine for malaria, with 20 million doses available for them to buy this year, the shot’s manufacturer told Reuters. This week, Nigeria's medicines regulator followed Ghana's, with the two nations becoming the first countries in the world to back the new R21 vaccine, developed by scientists at Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and Novavax. The move was unusual as it came before the World Health Organization's approval. African countries that do not have extensive resources for drug regulation have previously relied on the U.N. agency to initially review…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

Ghana first to approve Oxford’s malaria vaccine

HEALTH

NATALIE GROVER and JENNIFER RIGBY GHANA has become the first country in the world to approve a new malaria vaccine from Oxford University, a potential step forward in fighting a disease that kills hundreds of thousands of children each year. The approval is unusual as it comes before the publication of final-stage trial data. It is unclear when the vaccine may be rolled out in Ghana as other regulatory bodies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), are still assessing its safety and effectiveness. "The WHO can provide support, but it is not an approving institution. The FDA has the mandate…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

COVID-19 pandemic cut life expectancy by most since World War Two –study

COVID-19

VICTOR JACK THE COVID-19 pandemic reduced life expectancy in 2020 by the largest amount since World War Two, according to a study published by Oxford University, with the life expectancy of American men dropping by more than two years. Life expectancy fell by more than six months compared with 2019 in 22 of the 29 countries analysed in the study, which spanned Europe, the United States and Chile. There were reductions in life expectancy in 27 of the 29 countries overall. The university said most life expectancy reductions across different countries could be linked to official COVID-19 deaths. There have…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

Not perfect, but saves lives, AstraZeneca says of COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19

PUSHKALA ARIPAKA and LUDWIG BURGER ASTRAZENECA’S COVID-19 vaccine is not perfect but will have a big impact on the pandemic, its chief executive predicted on Thursday, as the drugmaker pledged to double supplies to more than 200 million doses per month by April. The two-dose shot, developed with Oxford University, has been hailed as a "vaccine for the world" because it is cheaper and easier to distribute than some rivals. But its rapid approval in Europe and elsewhere has been clouded by doubts over its most effective dosage and interval between doses. Data at the weekend also showed it was…

Dec

2020

By The African Mirror

EXPLAINER-Where are we in the COVID-19 vaccine race?

COVID-19

BRITAIN has become the first country in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, prioritizing the rapid deployment of the shot as it battles a major winter surge driven by a new, highly contagious variant of the virus. The following is what we know about the race to deliver vaccines to help end the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 1.7 million people worldwide: WHO IS FURTHEST ALONG? U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and German partner BioNTech are the COVID-19 vaccine trailblazers. On Nov. 18, they became the first in the world to release full…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Oxford COVID-19 trial will look at interim Phase III data after 53 infections – investigator

COVID-19

ALISTAIR SMOUT and KATE KELLAND OXFORD University will start an initial analysis of data from its late-stage trial of the experimental COVID-19 vaccine it is developing with AstraZeneca after 53 infections among its volunteers, the study's chief investigator said on Thursday. The Oxford Vaccine Group's director, Andrew Pollard, said in a media briefing there were "lots of cases" of infections in its Phase III trial in Britain, Brazil and South Africa. The first two sets of interim data from vaccine trials from Pfizer and BioNTech last week and Moderna on Monday were released after more than 90 infections among volunteers.…