UK approves Oxford-AstraZaneca vaccine amidst the tension of Second Strain of COVID 19
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London, Dec 30: The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved for use, with the first doses due to be given soon amid rising Corona virus cases. The government has ordered 100 million doses - enough to vaccinate 50 million people.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said, this will cover the entire population, when combined with the full order of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, 53,135 new Covid cases were recorded in the UK yesterday - the highest single day rise since mass testing began - as well as 414 more deaths within 28 days of a positive test.
Hancock has also stated that “It’s good news for the whole world because this vaccine is relatively cheap to produce because it’s relatively easy to handle and just can be stored at a normal fridge temperature.”
The steep rise in the cases comes in the wake of a new more infectious strain of the Corona virus is believed to have mutated in England's southeast which forced many nations to suspend flights from the UK. Parts of England, including London, are under the strictest level of lockdown while Scotland and Wales have imposed restrictions over the holidays in a bid to stem the spread of the disease.
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine also scores better on pricing as it costs a fraction of the price set by Pfizer and Moderna and will be manufactured in multiple low and middle-income countries, including India and Brazil.