Hacker News Reader

The 70% is the combined data, so probably the most reliable estimate. For two high doses, they got 62% effectiveness and for one low and one high dose they got 90%. They don't know why the latter was more effective.

70% is still a great effectiveness rate, specially for a cheaper and easier to distribute vaccine.

View on HN

The problem with adenovirus vaccines is that body might build immunity against the adenovirus as well. So, you give one jab, adenovirus infects enough cells and creates enough antigens, immune systems notices and does something about it, but it also notices the adenovirus and makes antibodies against that, too.

With the second jab those antibodies immediately neutralize the adenovirus so it can't infect enough cells and make enough of the COVID antigens so the protection is not that strong.

The Russian vaccine avoids it by using two different strains of adenovirus for the two jabs

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing

> The Russian vaccine avoids it by using two different strains of adenovirus for the two jabs

That would complicate manufacturing, logistics and distribution somewhat right?

Reply on news.ycombinator.com