Until then named ” Covid-19 AstraZeneca vaccine “, It now bears the name” Vaxzevria “. The European Medicines Agency recently agreed to this name change.
What does this change imply?
On the one hand, it’s this new name, ” Vaxzevria », Which will appear on the boxes containing the vials of serum developed by the Swedish-British laboratory. The packaging and labeling will be different from what is currently known. A drug or a vaccine can have several names. Indeed, there is a chemical name, which is used by scientists, a name to identify treatments or serums internationally, generally given by the World Health Organization and a brand name. For example, the RNA vaccine developed by Pfizer / BioNtech is called Comirnaty, from a commercial point of view. On the other hand, neither the Medicines Agency nor the AstraZeneca laboratory specifies the reasons for these modifications. The certainty is that only the trade name changes and that the composition of the vaccine is not changed. As the press release reminds us, the Vaxzevria vaccine consists of a virus different from that of the coronavirus responsible for Covid-19. It has been changed to ” contain the gene to make a protein from SARS-CoV-2 “. Therefore, the coronavirus is not a component of serum and “ cannot cause ” disease. The goal is to prepare the body to defend itself against a possible future infection with the coronavirus. It is given as two injections, the second dose being given between 4 and 12 weeks after the first.
A vaccine for those 55 and over
In France, the Haute Autorité de Santé updated its opinion on March 19. It recommends the vaccine to people aged 55 and over. Indeed, the use of this vaccine had been temporarily suspended in several European countries as well as on French territory, following the occurrence of cases of thrombosis ” severe and rare “. However, she confirms “ that the benefits of this vaccine in the fight against Covid-19 continue to outweigh the risk of adverse effects “, despite the ” possible link between the vaccine and cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) », Which cannot, to date, be ruled out. In addition, there are delays in the delivery of these vaccines to the European Union. This logistical failure as well as some concerns about adverse events may spark controversy around the Vaxzevria vaccine. However, it was judged “ safe and efficient »By the European Medicines Agency.
