Tests show the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is be up to 70 per cent effective in fighting coronavirus infection.
In a surprise twist, the much-vaunted vaccine was up to 90 per cent effective when administered at a half dose and then at a full dose.
Here’s a look at the key questions behind how the Oxford vaccine works:
How does it trigger an immune response?
The vaccine uses a weakened version of a virus to prepare the body for an attack.
In this case, scientists used a virus that causes a common cold in chimpanzees but is harmless to humans.
The genetic instructions for the “spike protein” of coronavirus – which it needs to invade cells – are transferred to the vaccine.
It triggers an immune response, effectively training the body to recognise coronavirus and destroy it.
Having been through a practice run, the body is ready to fight the real thing.
Does it work differently to Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines?
Yes. The Oxford vaccine uses conventional technology, while Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccine is a new approach.
Pfizer and Moderna are messenger RNA vaccines.
RNA vaccines use only the virus’s genetic code, while the Oxford vaccine uses a weakened version of the virus.
Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines, which each have 95 per cent efficacy, tell the body to create antigens to fight infected cells.
No actual virus is needed to create RNA vaccines.
How is it administered and why does the dose matter?
Curiously, the Oxford vaccine was less effective when given as two full doses.
In clinical trials, the vaccine was 90 per cent effective when administered as one half dose followed by a full dose a month later.
The result was 62 per cent when given as two full doses over the same time period.
Together, the results calculate to an average efficacy of 70 per cent.
Prof Andrew Pollard, head of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said on Monday more data was needed to explain why there was a difference.
“We think by giving a smaller first dose we’re priming the immune system differently, we’re setting it up to respond better," he said.
“But we don’t know whether it is in the quality or the quantity of the immune response.”
Prof Sarah Gilbert, who worked on the vaccine, theorised that the smaller dosage better mimicked how coronavirus infects the body.
“It could be that it is a better way of kicking the immune system into a reaction,” she said.
When will it be rolled out?
AstraZeneca said it hopes to have four million doses of the vaccine manufactured by the end of the year.
It is hoped that number will rise sharply to 40 million by the end of March.
At times of peak distribution, 200 million doses will be manufactured each month.
Pam Cheng, AstraZeneca's vice president of operations, said the company was planning for half-dose and full-dose scenarios.
“There are not many implications for distribution (under both scenarios),” she said.
Are Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines better than Oxford’s?
Scientists are cautioning against judging one vaccine as better than another.
Prof Pollard said comparisons were difficult because the data behind Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines had not yet been released.
“Press releases don’t give all the information,” he said. The Oxford data is expected to be released in coming days.
While the Oxford vaccine may have a lower efficacy, it is cheaper and can be distributed easily.
The Pfizer shot needs to be kept at minus 75°C while Oxford’s can be stored at refrigerator temperature.
Is it safe?
No one who was on the Oxford trial needed to be admitted to hospital for coronavirus, scientists said.
The team reported that minor side effects included tiredness, headaches and fever.
The safety data has been submitted to regulators on a “rolling basis” and the team believes they can apply for emergency approval shortly.
Can this vaccine help the elderly?
The University of Oxford said its vaccine could induce a strong immune response in all age groups.
The immune responses among younger and older adults were similar, it said.
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
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THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Scores
Wales 74-24 Tonga
England 35-15 Japan
Italy 7-26 Australia
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%3Cp%3E%22Whatever%20the%20initial%20intent%2C%20what%20took%20place%20at%20many%20of%20these%20gatherings%20and%20the%3Cbr%3Eway%20in%20which%20they%20developed%20was%20not%20in%20line%20with%20Covid%20guidance%20at%20the%20time.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22Many%20of%20these%20events%20should%20not%20have%20been%20allowed%20to%20happen.%20It%20is%20also%20the%20case%20that%20some%20of%20the%3Cbr%3Emore%20junior%20civil%20servants%20believed%20that%20their%20involvement%20in%20some%20of%20these%20events%20was%20permitted%20given%20the%20attendance%20of%20senior%20leaders.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22The%20senior%20leadership%20at%20the%20centre%2C%20both%20political%20and%20official%2C%20must%20bear%20responsibility%20for%20this%20culture.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22I%20found%20that%20some%20staff%20had%20witnessed%20or%20been%20subjected%20to%20behaviours%20at%20work%20which%20they%20had%20felt%20concerned%20about%20but%20at%20times%20felt%20unable%20to%20raise%20properly.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22I%20was%20made%20aware%20of%20multiple%20examples%20of%20a%20lack%20of%20respect%20and%20poor%20treatment%20of%20security%20and%20cleaning%20staff.%20This%20was%20unacceptable.%22%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Read more about the coronavirus
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
Meydan race card
6pm Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
1,800m
7.10pm Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m ,400m
7.45pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
8.20pm Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m
8.55pm Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m
Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
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Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
