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Rejecting sharp criticism from U.S. government scientists, AstraZeneca said Wednesday night that its Covid-19 vaccine was 76% effective at reducing the risk of symptomatic Covid-19, and 100% effective against severe disease, in a new analysis of its large U.S.-based clinical trial. Those estimates were just a few percentage points lower than much more sparse results the company released Monday from an earlier analysis of the study, despite dramatic statements from government scientists that AstraZeneca’s initial release may have used “outdated information” that could have been overly favorable. (Herper, 3/24)

The updated information, which included 190 symptomatic cases, showed only a slightly different picture. The vaccine prevented 76% of cases of symptomatic disease two weeks after the second dose, as well as all severe disease and hospitalizations, according to the updated data. It was 85% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 in trial volunteers aged 65 and over, according to the new data, instead of the 80% reported earlier. (Weintraub, 3/24)

The new results strengthen the scientific case for the embattled vaccine. But they may not repair the damage to AstraZeneca’s credibility after U.S. health officials and independent monitors issued an extraordinary rebuke of the company for not counting some Covid-19 cases when it announced its initial findings this week. (Robbins and Mueller, 3/25)

The road keeps getting bumpier for a vaccine that most researchers say is safe and effective and has huge potential to protect large swathes of the world’s population. ... Amid the uncertainty, Nature looks at everything we do and don’t know about the AstraZeneca vaccine. (Mallapaty and Callaway, 3/24)

Canada’s health department on Wednesday continues to back AstraZeneca Plc’s COVID-19 vaccine even as it updated its label to provide information on rare blood clots associated with a low platelet count following an immunization shot. Health Canada said it has not received any reports of these blood clots to date. Canada, which is using AstraZeneca doses manufactured at the Serum Institute of India, has received 500,000 Covishield doses and expects to get 1.5 million more by May. (3/25)