Some encouraging news from the AstraZeneca vaccine: It might slow virus transmission, researchers say

Initial testing of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, developed in partnership with Oxford University, shows that it might slow virus transmission in addition to protecting recipients, researchers announced on Tuesday.

Their study, which has not been peer-reviewed, indicated that the AstraZeneca vaccine has the potential to reduce the number of infected individuals in the community, which researchers argued is slowing transmission.

The research is the first to suggest that a vaccine could cut down on coronavirus spread.

Matt Hancock, the British health secretary, celebrated the initial research on Wednesday, telling the BBC that a vaccine that decreases transmission “will help us all get out of this pandemic.”

The data analysis also determined that a single dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine cut positive test results by 76 percent within 90 days after it was administered. However, two doses only reduced positive tests by 49.5 percent.

The caveat in the US: This vaccine has not been authorized yet. The company is waiting for its US trial to be completed before applying to the FDA, which could come in “the next month or two,” the company said.