London, Feb. 3, 2021 (AltAfrica)-A new study has found that Oxford vaccine is the first of the coronavirus cutting transmission rates by 67%. Meaning that restrictions in Britain could be lifted earlier than anticipated,

The new study also revealed that a single dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine can significantly reduce the spread of coronavirus 

Researchers from the University of Oxford found that their vaccine offers protection of up to 76% up to 12 weeks after a single dose and may reduce transmission by 67%.

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The team said their study, which hasn’t yet been peer reviewed, also showed that – after a second dose – efficacy of the vaccine is 82.4%, if the interval between jabs is three months.

This compared to 54.9% for those where the booster was given under six weeks after the first dose.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Hancock hailed the study as supportive of the government’s decision to delay giving a second vaccine dose to people for up to 12 weeks, as part of a push to get as many people as possible in the UK vaccinated with an initial first dose.

“This Oxford report is very good news, it backs the strategy that we’ve taken and it shows the world that the Oxford vaccine works effectively,” Mr Hancock said.

“The really good news embedded in it is that it not just reduces hospitalisations – there were no people in this part of the trial who are hospitalised with COVID after getting the Oxford jab – but also it reduces the number of people who have COVID at all, even asymptomatically, by around two-thirds.

“That reduction in transmission, as well as the fact there is no hospitalisations, the combination of that is very good news and it categorically supports the strategy we’ve been taking on having a 12-week gap between the doses because it shows that the strength of the protection you get is, in fact, slightly enhanced by a 12-week gap between the doses.

“It is good news all round.”