AstraZeneca CEO says smaller first dose in COVID-19 vaccine is 'big plus'

AstraZeneca's chief executive officer Pascal Soriot said on Monday that the lower first dose of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine meant more people can be vaccinated more quickly, as the British drugmaker unveiled interim late-stage trial results. "Being able to vaccinate more people faster is a really a big plus," he told a briefing.

The British drugmaker said on Monday its vaccine for the novel coronavirus could be around 90% effective without any serious side effects. The vaccine developed by Oxford University was most effective when it was administered as a half dose followed by a full dose at least one month apart, rather than as two full doses at least one month apart.