• In a randomized trial involving nearly 40,000 persons, vaccine efficacy was 66% against infection and 85% against severe-critical Covid-19. Efficacy against the variant first identified in South Africa was 64% against moderate disease and 82% against severe-critical disease. 

Last week the news that Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine caused blood clots sent a shiver down markets for a few minutes. Once the headline was digested it was realised that there were still vaccine alternatives to replace J&J’s even if there was a delay in the roll out. This was underlined by White House COVID Coordinator Zients who stated last week that there is plenty of vaccine supply in the system, even without J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine and that the US Gov’t is doing everything it can to accelerate the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Ok, panic over. The dip was bought on the headline last week.

However, it is interesting to note that in stark contrast to the inflation fears, which came to nothing last week, the market remains laser focused on the vaccine roll out. So, right now, vaccines matter most. This is not to discount inflationary pressures, but simply to say the focus is still more on vaccines than inflation right now.

One interesting headline from last week that could be lost in the mix is the fact that Novavax will be taking part in a Oxford University study comparing mixed COVID-19 vaccine combinations from different manufacturers. The idea of the study is to explore any potential possibility there is of mixing doses. This will be extremely helpful if a ‘mix&max’ combination is possible and should help speed up the vaccination process and reward manufacturers who can supply the most quickly. One report to look out for as it could give risk assets a positive boost if the study proves positive.

• Six months after being diagnosed with Covid-19, 1 in 3 patients also had experienced a psychiatric or neurological illness
• mostly mood disorders but also strokes or dementia
• Compared to control groups of people who had the flu or other non-Covid respiratory infections, first-ever neuropsychiatric diagnoses were almost twice as high

• making incredible progress
• more than 75% of over 65s have had a shot
• more than 80% of teachers, school staff and child care workers received at least one Covid-19 shot by the end of March
• US is on track to hit 200m goal in his first 100 days in office

• new variants of the virus are spreading, moving quickly … and cases are going up

• Deaths rose 409  That is the highest since Feb 9.