Top Brighton doctor eases fears over Oxford Covid vaccine

Dr Rob Galloway, an A&E consultant at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, has spoken out amid claims questioning the Astrazeneca vaccine’s effectiveness for older individuals.

To ease fears, Dr Galloway has penned an open letter to his mother – and other over 65s “worried about the Oxford vaccine after reports from Germany”.

He wrote: “You should get it, you don’t need to worry about its effectiveness - it’s very, very effective.

“You can ignore their misunderstanding. Here is why.

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“The data doesn’t show it’s not effective, the trial just didn’t have that many over 65s in it to prove it was effective, but those who were over 65 benefited in the same way as others both in outcomes and creation of immunity.

“It’s all about proving efficacy with small samples.

“I’m sure if they did a subgroup analysis, there would not be enough evidence to prove people who were, say, a Gemini statistically benefited from the vaccine.

“There are too low numbers in the sample to prove it, rather than anything special about Gemini star sign people.

“The problem is that some scientists - including the German advisors - are evidenced-based zealots rather than best evidenced-based clinicians.

“There are no randomised controlled studies to show in a parachute jump that pulling the cord saves your life, but you would still pull that cord.”

His letter comes after a draft recommendation from Germany’s vaccination advisory committee on Thursday said there was insufficient data to recommend it for those aged 65 and over.

Dr Galloway continues: “The point is that a lack of perfect scientific evidence doesn’t mean something isn’t effective – especially when everything else points to it being effective.

“It works in the younger people study was done on – and quite rightly done on younger people first, until they knew it was safe.

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“It creates the same immune response as younger people and we are starting to see declined levels of Covid and hospitalisation in patients with the vaccine.

“So when we are in a race to beat Covid, the best available evidence is that it’s safe and effective on over 65s.

“The problem with the German advice is that it puts people off having the vaccine and it feeds the vaccine conspiracy theorists who believe that the vaccine will make you a clone of whatever twiddle they spout.

“So my advice to my mum and all over 65s is to get the vaccine, get the 2nd dose, and act like you haven’t had the vaccine until changes in advice on social distancing and lockdown.

“And soon you can hug the kids.”

French President Emmanuel Macron has been accused of trying to reduce demand for the AstraZeneca vaccine to deal with supply shortfalls in the EU by questioning its effectiveness for older individuals.

Sir John Bell, a professor who was part of the Oxford University team that developed the coronavirus jab, disputed Mr Macron’s claims the AstraZeneca vaccine is “quasi-ineffective” for the over-65s.

The French president backed the European Union’s widely criticised move to control the export of vaccines produced within the bloc as it faces supply shortages and is embroiled in a contract row with the pharmaceuticals giant.

Contrary to analysis from UK authorities, developers and suppliers, Mr Macron raised doubts over the AstraZeneca jab, which was fully approved by the EU on Friday.

Sir John said: “I’m not sure where he got that from”, as he rejected Mr Macron’s claims by saying “there’s really persuasive evidence that this is a protective vaccine in those populations”.

The professor acknowledged the original study contained low numbers of older participants because they were shielding, but he said other studies proved “elderly people responded just as well in other age groups”.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Sir John added: “I suspect this is a bit of demand management from Mr Macron.”