BFF-42 Oxford-AstraZeneca covid vaccine submitted for UK approval

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BFF-42

HEALTH-VIRUS

Oxford-AstraZeneca covid vaccine submitted for UK approval

LONDON, Dec 23, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The University of Oxford and drug
manufacturer AstraZeneca have applied to the UK health regulator for
permission to roll out their Covid-19 vaccine, Health Minister Matt
Hancock said Wednesday.

“I’m delighted to be able to tell you that the Oxford AstraZeneca
vaccine developed here in the UK has submitted its full data package
to the MHRA for approval,” he said.

“This is the next step towards a decision on the deployment of the
vaccine,” the health minister added at a press conference where he
announced Britain would impose travel restrictions on South Africa to
curb the spread of another new, more transmissible strain of the
coronavirus.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was the first coronavirus shot to be
authorised for use by the UK’s independent medicines regulator and has
been given to 500,000 of the country’s most vulnerable people since
its rollout last month.

The bulk of Britain’s vaccine requirements are expected to be met by
the jab developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, as the
government has ordered 100 million doses.

BSS/AFP/MRU/2348hrs