How the UK Aced Covid, sort of …

London yesterday. Spectators give a spontaneous standing ovation to Oxford Professor Sarah Gilbert (below), who was one of the scientists involved in developing the Astra-Zeneca vaccine and one of 100 key worker special guests on opening day. (The Age, 29 JUN, 2021)

Here are the Covid-19 Vaccination stats for the UK as of yesterday:

BBC, 29 JUN 2021

The UK recorded 22, 868 cases yesterday, but only 3 deaths.

The last time the UK recorded close to 23,000 cases was on 16 December 2020. That day, 613 deaths were announced. (The Age, 29 JUN 2021)

In 2019, in the UK, the total death toll was 616,014 or 1688 per day. Tragically but realistically elderly patients with multiple health issues are more likely to contract Covid and die from complications exacerbated by Covid-19 but not necessarily caused by the virus.

The death toll numbers are now encouragingly low in the UK despite the high infection rates from the highly contagious Covid Delta variant.

UPDATE:

On 9 July 2021, the UK recorded 35,707 cases and 29 Deaths. According to  Worldometer stats  (below), the case numbers and deaths are still rising. Too soon to celebrate even though the UK Freedom Day is only 10 days away.

Vaccine math. Results vary because …

According to the AstraZeneca Media Release, 22 March 2021, “The AstraZeneca US Phase III trial of AZD1222 demonstrated statistically significant vaccine efficacy of 79% … based on 32,449 participants accruing 141 symptomatic cases of COVID-19. The trial had a 2:1 randomisation of vaccine to placebo.”

“A careful review of all available safety data of more than 17 million people vaccinated in the European Union (EU) and UK with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca has shown no evidence of an increased risk …”

Update:

The Washington Post, 25 MAR 2021

An updated company analysis of the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford showed that the two-shot regimen was robustly effective — 76 percent at preventing symptomatic illness — according to a news release from the drugmaker late Wednesday.

Among people 65 and older, the vaccine was 85 percent effective, the company reported.

New York Times, 9 APR 2021

UK plus & 30 EU countries have administered 34 million AstraVeneca doses and report a blood clot condition in 222 patients and 18 fatalities. 

Risk Factor for blood clots = 1: 153,000 

Risk of death ~ 1: 2,000,000

Many countries including Australia advise the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for the 50+ age group as the blood clot condition appears mostly in younger patients.