AstraZeneca, mRNA vaxx give same protection vs. ‘serious’ COVID-19 outcomes –experts

Infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante, along with other health experts, said on Wednesday that both the viral vector vaccine AstraZeneca and mRNA vaccines like Pfizer or Moderna, provide the same protection against severe or critical symptoms brought by COVID-19 infection.

In a virtual roundtable discussion spearheaded by the Philippine College of Physicians, Solante, who is also a Vaccine Expert Panel member, showed data that two doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine offer a degree of protection against hospitalization as high as 91.3% to 92.5%, and against death with 91.4% to 93.23%.

He pointed out that there is “no statistical difference” if AstraZeneca is compared with the mRNA jabs.

He also said both the vaccine types consistently deliver “high protection” even for vulnerable populations like senior citizens.

“It’s reassuring that whether you are given this virus vector vaccine or mRNA vaccine, the protection is optimal and robust among this population which is related with higher rate of mortality,” Solante added.

This was echoed by Dr. Sunate Chuenkitmongkol of the National Vaccine Institute in Thailand, noting that such review is also reflected in their local data considering that they also administer AstraZeneca vaccines along with mRNA vaccines and other vaccine types.

“The AstraZeneca viral vector vaccine, it provides equivalent protection against hospitalization and death which may be severe consequence of the COVID-19 when it is compared to the mRNA Pfizer vaccine. This we can reassure to our population that we have been well protected against the serious COVID-19 outcome with the most widely used vaccine,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Bruce Mungall, Asia Area Medical Director of the Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at AstraZeneca, said that even as a booster dose, AstraZeneca vaccine could also restore protection against serious outcomes from COVID-19 infection, same with mRNA vaccine boosters.

The Philippine government on Monday, April 25, 2022, started the rollout of the second booster shot in the National Capital Region but only for the immunocompromised population only, as recommended by the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC).

The emergency use authorization for the second booster shot was granted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the immunocompromised, senior citizens, and frontline health workers. However, the Health department said the HTAC is still reviewing evidence for the elderly and health workers.

Vaccine brands that are provided as second booster shots in the Philippines are AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Sinovac, and Sinopharm.—LDF, GMA News