AstraZeneca says its coronavirus vaccine initiates immune response among adults

British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said its potential Covid-19 vaccine has produced a similar immune response in older and younger adults.

AstraZeneca, which is developing its potential Covid-19 vaccine in collaboration with the University of Oxford, said adverse responses to the vaccine among the elderly were also found to be lower.

The World Health Organization has said that older people, in addition to people of all ages with preexisting medical conditions, appear to develop serious illness on contracting the coronavirus more often than others.

The announcement is likely to boost hopes of a Covid vaccine being developed before the end of the year.