Independent Board Says AstraZeneca Vaccine Announcement Relied on Old Information

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said Tuesday that an independent board that reviews data from COVID-19 vaccine candidates is concerned about AstraZeneca's recent announcement of efficacy data from its vaccine trial. AstraZeneca issued a press release Monday saying its vaccine is 79% effective against symptomatic disease and 100% effective against severe disease and hospitalization. The review board reportedly wrote a letter to the company raising concerns about "outdated information" used in that announcement "which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data." Several countries suspended use of AstraZeneca's vaccine last week amid concerns about blood clots, which health experts later dispelled; the Biden administration said last week it will send 2.5 million doses of the drug to Mexico and 1.5 million to Canada. The drug is not yet approved for use in the United States; AstraZeneca said Tuesday it intends to release results of a more recent analysis in the coming days. Coverage from all sides, especially some right-rated outlets, framed AstraZeneca's management of its vaccine trial in a negative light. Reports from left- and center-rated outlets highlighted data and testimonies from health experts suggesting the company's vaccine is ultimately safe despite concerns; right-rated outlets featured this information less prominently. Some voices from the left said the intense scrutiny around the drug represented "vaccine safety at work."