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The AstraZeneca-Oxford coronavirus vaccine has been approved for emergency supply in the United Kingdom with the first doses being released today and vaccinations beginning early in the New Year.
The vaccine is not as effective as previously released Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Still, trials have shown that it stops severe cases of Covid-19 that lead to hospitalizations.AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said data now shows that the vaccine is as effective as the two vaccines currently being used.
The vaccine is far less expensive than the Pfizer-BioNTech ($19.50 a dose) and Moderna ($37 a dose) vaccines. A $3 to $4 a dose, the AstraZeneca vaccine can be stored in a refrigerator rather than a special freezer.
AstraZeneca s COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for emergency supply in the UK, with the first doses being released today so that vaccinations may begin early in the New Year. The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has provided authorisation for emergency supply of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, formerly AZD1222, for the active immunisation of individuals 18 years or older. The authorisation recommends two doses administered with an interval of between four and 12 weeks. This regimen was shown in clinical trials to be safe and effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19, with no severe cases and no hospitalisations more than 14 days after the second dose.
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UK approves Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine
LONDON, December 30, 2020 The vaccine has been approved for emergency supply in the UK, with the first doses being released today so that vaccinations may begin early in the New Year, said AstraZeneca. The authorisation by UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recommends two doses administered with an interval of between four and 12 weeks. This regimen was shown in clinical trials to be safe and effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19, with no severe cases and no hospitalisations more than 14 days after the second dose. AstraZeneca is working with Public Health England and National Health Service England to support the deployment and roll out of the vaccine in the UK, in line with the MHRA and the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation dosing recommendation, it said.
UK approves Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine for use
By IANS |
Published on
Wed, Dec 30 2020 15:33 IST |
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London, Dec 30 : The UK on Wednesday approved the use of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca s Covid-19 vaccine with the first shots expected to be given on January 4.
The world s attention has been fixed on this vaccine for several months now because of a number of factors including its low cost, ease of storage, transportation and administration.
The approval by the UK is likely to pave the way for authorisation of the vaccine in several countries including India.