The European Medicines Agency held a news conference to discuss its investigation into incidents of bleeding, blood clots and low platelet counts in people who had been given AstraZeneca PLC’s Coronavirus vaccine.

European medicines agency hold briefing over AstraZeneca vaccine

Does AstraZeneca cause blood clots in everybody or only in those with co-morbidities? How many types of blood clots are being reported? Are they all linked to vaccination? WION's Palki Sharma separates the facts from the hype.

Gravitas | AstraZeneca Suspension: Facts vs Hype

Does the Astrazenca vaccine cause blood clots? At least 16 countries have suspended the shot so far. But the European & British regulators say the vaccine is safe. Who is right? Where does India stand? WION's Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Does the AstraZeneca vaccine cause blood clots?

France, Italy and Germany became the latest major European countries to block Astrazeneca's Covid-19 vaccines over reports of dangerous blood clots in some recipients.

News Alert: Italy, Germany, France suspends AstraZeneca jabs

European Union vaccination drive stumbles as the production supply becomes the main reason for AstraZeneca shortage. Several countries have suspended the AstraZeneca vaccine over blood clot fears.

AstraZeneca Update: EU faces vaccine shortage, supplies to be blamed

AstraZeneca said that a review of safety data of people vaccinated with its COVID-19 vaccine has shown no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots.

AstraZeneca finds no evidence of blood clot risk from vaccine

After several Nordic nations suspended the use of Oxford-AstraZeneca's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccine</a>, the European Union's drug regulator advised European countries to keep using the jabs during a probe of blood clots cases.&nbsp;

"The position of EMA's safety committee... is that the vaccine's benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing," European Medicines Agency (EMA) in a statement said.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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"There is currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions, which are not listed as side effects with this vaccine."

The regulator's assurance comes after the United Kingdom defended Oxford's vaccine, saying it's "safe and effective".&nbsp;

"We've been clear that it's both safe and effective... and when people are asked to come forward and take it, they should do so in confidence," PM Boris Johnson's spokesman told reporters.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/denmark-suspends-use-of-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-due-to-blood-clot-fears-369692">Denmark, Norway suspend use of AstraZeneca COVID vaccine due to blood clot fears</a>

He also said that country's vaccine programme results have lowered the number of Covid-19 cases, hospitalisations, and deaths, suggesting that the vaccine is safe.&nbsp;

Denmark, Norway and Iceland on Thursday temporarily paused the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine over cases of patients developing blood clots after receiving jabs.

Amongst the three nations, Denmark was the first to announce the suspension, with the country's health authority saying "serious cases of blood clots" have been detected.

However, it said that the measure is "precautionary" and at the moment it has found no connection between AstraZeneca's jabs and blood clots.

After several Nordic nations suspended the use of Oxford-AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine, the European Union's drug regulator advised European countries to keep using the jabs during a probe of blood clots cases.

After several Nordic nations suspended the use of Oxford-AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine, the European Union's drug regulator advised European countries to keep using the jabs during a probe of blood clots cases. "The position of EMA's safety committee... is that the vaccine's benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing," European Medicines Agency (EMA) in a statement said. Watch | "There is currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions, which are not listed as side effects with this vaccine." The regulator's assurance comes after the United Kingdom defended Oxford's vaccine, saying it's "safe and effective". "We've been clear that it's both safe and effective... and when people are asked to come forward and take it, they should do so in confidence," PM Boris Johnson's spokesman told reporters. Also read | Denmark, Norway suspend use of AstraZeneca COVID vaccine due to blood clot fears He also said that country's vaccine programme results have lowered the number of Covid-19 cases, hospitalisations, and deaths, suggesting that the vaccine is safe. Denmark, Norway and Iceland on Thursday temporarily paused the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine over cases of patients developing blood clots after receiving jabs. Amongst the three nations, Denmark was the first to announce the suspension, with the country's health authority saying "serious cases of blood clots" have been detected. However, it said that the measure is "precautionary" and at the moment it has found no connection between AstraZeneca's jabs and blood clots.

Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine can be used until probe results: EU regulator

Italy blocked the export of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to Australia, a move coordinated with the European Union authorities. This is perhaps the first such export ban under an EU vaccine monitoring scheme.

Italy blocks export of AstraZeneca vaccines doses to Australia

The Italian government has blocked the Australia-bound shipment of Oxford-AstraZeneca <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccine's </a>250,000 doses.&nbsp;

Italy blamed the export ban on the doses produced in an Italian facility on the shortage of vaccines in Europe and a better situation in Australia when it comes to dealing with Covid-19.&nbsp;

By taking such a measure, Italy has become the first EU nation to use the group's new regulations permitting vaccine exports to be stopped if the company providing them has failed to meet its obligations to the EU.

Watch |&nbsp;

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However, Australia has played down the impact of Italy's decision,&nbsp;with the Australian prime minister saying that the situation is under control in the country, while Italy needs vaccine more as they are facing "an unbridled crisis situation".&nbsp;

"This particular shipment was not one we'd counted on for the rollout, and so we will continue unabated," Australian PM Scott Morrison said.&nbsp;

"They are in an unbridled crisis situation. That is not the situation in Australia."&nbsp;

Earlier, the Australian health ministry's spokesperson also said that the country is just losing "one shipment" from Italy.

Canberra has already received a supply of 300,000 doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine and they will first be used on Friday on the frontline workers.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italy-pm-mario-draghi-sets-out-plan-to-rebuild-virus-hit-country-364400">Italy PM Mario Draghi sets out plan to rebuild virus-hit country</a>

The current stock of AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine in Australia is expected to last until domestic production ramps up.&nbsp;

"Domestic production starts with one million (doses) per week of deliveries from late March and is on track," the Australian health ministry spokesperson added.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the EU has faced a lot of criticism for its slow rollout of vaccines and in January, then Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said it is "unacceptable" on the delay of vaccine supplies by both AstraZeneca and Pfizer.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The Italian government has blocked the Australia-bound shipment of Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine's 250,000 doses. Italy blamed the export ban on the doses produced in an Italian facility on the shortage of vaccines in Europe and a better situation in Australia when it comes to dealing with Covid-19.

The Italian government has blocked the Australia-bound shipment of Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine's 250,000 doses. Italy blamed the export ban on the doses produced in an Italian facility on the shortage of vaccines in Europe and a better situation in Australia when it comes to dealing with Covid-19. By taking such a measure, Italy has become the first EU nation to use the group's new regulations permitting vaccine exports to be stopped if the company providing them has failed to meet its obligations to the EU. Watch | However, Australia has played down the impact of Italy's decision, with the Australian prime minister saying that the situation is under control in the country, while Italy needs vaccine more as they are facing "an unbridled crisis situation". "This particular shipment was not one we'd counted on for the rollout, and so we will continue unabated," Australian PM Scott Morrison said. "They are in an unbridled crisis situation. That is not the situation in Australia." Earlier, the Australian health ministry's spokesperson also said that the country is just losing "one shipment" from Italy. Canberra has already received a supply of 300,000 doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine and they will first be used on Friday on the frontline workers. Also read | Italy PM Mario Draghi sets out plan to rebuild virus-hit country The current stock of AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine in Australia is expected to last until domestic production ramps up. "Domestic production starts with one million (doses) per week of deliveries from late March and is on track," the Australian health ministry spokesperson added. Meanwhile, the EU has faced a lot of criticism for its slow rollout of vaccines and in January, then Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said it is "unacceptable" on the delay of vaccine supplies by both AstraZeneca and Pfizer.

Italy blocks export of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine shipment to Australia

The Oxford vaccine group has launched a trial to assess the efficacy of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wont-use-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-for-elderly-says-south-korea-363769">AstraZeneca </a>vaccine on children and young adults aged 6 to 17.

Watch:

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According to the group, the study will assess if children can be protected from coronavirus with the new vaccine called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19.&nbsp;

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We have a new COVID-19 study open for recruitment. If your child is aged 6-17 years and in good health they may be eligible to participate. Click on the link to find out more. <a href="https://t.co/4zbqIEI9LT">https://t.co/4zbqIEI9LT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OxfordVaccineGroup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OxfordVaccineGroup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OxfordVaccine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OxfordVaccine</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Covid19</a> <a href="https://t.co/4IFvVWWbj7">pic.twitter.com/4IFvVWWbj7</a>
— Oxford Vaccine Group (@OxfordVacGroup) <a href="https://twitter.com/OxfordVacGroup/status/1360515657910136833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The study will also judge the safety aspects of the vaccine and its ability to generate good immune responses against the virus in children and young adults.

Oxford University said that it was now enrolling volunteers from the Thames Valley area for clinical trials on kids. &nbsp;“Participants from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups are particularly welcomed to participate in this study,” the university said.&nbsp;

The World Health Organization(WHO) has granted two versions of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.

The vaccine produced by SKBio(Republic of Korea) and the Serum Institute of India(SII) has been found to have 63.09 per cent efficacy and is suitable for low-and middle-income countries due to easy storage requirements.&nbsp;

"In the first half of 2021, it is hoped that more than 300 million doses of the vaccine will be made available to 145 countries through COVAX, pending supply and operational challenges", the British drugmaker said.

However, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus while hailing the move, said: "We now have all the pieces in place for the rapid distribution of vaccines. But we still need to scale up production."

"We continue to call for COVID19 vaccine developers to submit their dossiers to WHO for review at the same time as they submit them to regulators in high-income countries," the WHO chief added.

The Oxford vaccine group has launched a trial to assess the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine on children and young adults aged 6 to 17. Watch: According to the group, the study will assess if children can be protected from coronavirus with the new vaccine called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19.

The Oxford vaccine group has launched a trial to assess the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine on children and young adults aged 6 to 17. Watch: According to the group, the study will assess if children can be protected from coronavirus with the new vaccine called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. We have a new COVID-19 study open for recruitment. If your child is aged 6-17 years and in good health they may be eligible to participate. Click on the link to find out more. https://t.co/4zbqIEI9LT #OxfordVaccineGroup #OxfordVaccine #Covid19 pic.twitter.com/4IFvVWWbj7 — Oxford Vaccine Group (@OxfordVacGroup) February 13, 2021 × The study will also judge the safety aspects of the vaccine and its ability to generate good immune responses against the virus in children and young adults. Oxford University said that it was now enrolling volunteers from the Thames Valley area for clinical trials on kids. “Participants from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups are particularly welcomed to participate in this study,” the university said. The World Health Organization(WHO) has granted two versions of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. The vaccine produced by SKBio(Republic of Korea) and the Serum Institute of India(SII) has been found to have 63.09 per cent efficacy and is suitable for low-and middle-income countries due to easy storage requirements. "In the first half of 2021, it is hoped that more than 300 million doses of the vaccine will be made available to 145 countries through COVAX, pending supply and operational challenges", the British drugmaker said. However, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus while hailing the move, said: "We now have all the pieces in place for the rapid distribution of vaccines. But we still need to scale up production." "We continue to call for COVID19 vaccine developers to submit their dossiers to WHO for review at the same time as they submit them to regulators in high-income countries," the WHO chief added.

AstraZeneca vaccine to be tested on children to test efficacy

South Africa’s Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on Tuesday clarified that the country has not returned the AstraZeneca vaccines to the Serum Institute of India (SII).

“I would like to clarify a few media reports that said we have returned the vaccines to India. We have not returned the Astra Zeneca vaccines to India,” Mkhize said at the parliament during the state of the nation address debate.&nbsp;

''The AstraZeneca doses we purchased have been offered to the African Union platform, of which we are part of, and the AU will distribute to those countries who have already expressed interest in acquiring the stock'', the minister said.&nbsp;

He reiterated,&nbsp;“I also wish to once again put it on record that the vaccines have not expired and that the expiry date of April 31 was established through our quality control processes - a wrong impression was created that the vaccines have expired - this is simply not true.”&nbsp;

Mkhize said that South Africa has managed to successfully secure 9 million doses of the Johnson&amp;Johnson vaccine, with the delivery of the first batch of 80,000 on course and the vaccination due to begin this week.

An additional 500,000 doses are expected to arrive over the next four weeks, supplemented by another 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine that is expected to be received at the end of March 2021, he added.&nbsp;

"As&nbsp; [the] government we are actively engaging manufacturers and suppliers of the COVID-19 vaccines through different but interrelated channels'', Mkhize said.

South Africa’s Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on Tuesday clarified that the country has not returned the AstraZeneca vaccines to the Serum Institute of India (SII).

South Africa’s Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on Tuesday clarified that the country has not returned the AstraZeneca vaccines to the Serum Institute of India (SII). “I would like to clarify a few media reports that said we have returned the vaccines to India. We have not returned the Astra Zeneca vaccines to India,” Mkhize said at the parliament during the state of the nation address debate. ''The AstraZeneca doses we purchased have been offered to the African Union platform, of which we are part of, and the AU will distribute to those countries who have already expressed interest in acquiring the stock'', the minister said. He reiterated, “I also wish to once again put it on record that the vaccines have not expired and that the expiry date of April 31 was established through our quality control processes - a wrong impression was created that the vaccines have expired - this is simply not true.” Mkhize said that South Africa has managed to successfully secure 9 million doses of the Johnson&Johnson vaccine, with the delivery of the first batch of 80,000 on course and the vaccination due to begin this week. An additional 500,000 doses are expected to arrive over the next four weeks, supplemented by another 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine that is expected to be received at the end of March 2021, he added. "As [the] government we are actively engaging manufacturers and suppliers of the COVID-19 vaccines through different but interrelated channels'', Mkhize said.

South Africa did not return AstraZeneca vaccines to India, says country's health minister

The Serum Institute of India will ship the Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Canada in less than one month, Serum's chief executive said on Monday.

"As we await regulatory approvals from Canada, I assure you, @SerumInstIndia will fly out #COVISHIELD to Canada in less than a month; I'm on it!" CEO Adar Poonawalla said on Twitter, referring to a brand name for AstraZeneca's vaccine.

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Dear Hon’ble PM <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JustinTrudeau</a>, I thank you for your warm words towards India and it’s vaccine industry. As we await regulatory approvals from Canada, I assure you, <a href="https://twitter.com/SerumInstIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SerumInstIndia</a> will fly out <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVISHIELD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVISHIELD</a> to Canada in less than a month; I’m on it!
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) <a href="https://twitter.com/adarpoonawalla/status/1361214744510615553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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India boasts of several vaccine manufacturing facilities and is fast emerging as a key supplier to the world.

Canada, which has recorded more than 825,000 coronavirus cases and 21,000 deaths so far, does not yet have a vaccine manufacturing facility of its own and is reliant on foreign suppliers.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week assured Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau that India would do its best to supply Canada with the vaccines, potentially easing shortages faced in the country.

Canada has so far ordered vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna.

The Serum Institute of India will ship the Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Canada in less than one month, Serum's chief executive said on Monday.

The Serum Institute of India will ship the Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Canada in less than one month, Serum's chief executive said on Monday. "As we await regulatory approvals from Canada, I assure you, @SerumInstIndia will fly out #COVISHIELD to Canada in less than a month; I'm on it!" CEO Adar Poonawalla said on Twitter, referring to a brand name for AstraZeneca's vaccine. Dear Hon’ble PM @JustinTrudeau, I thank you for your warm words towards India and it’s vaccine industry. As we await regulatory approvals from Canada, I assure you, @SerumInstIndia will fly out #COVISHIELD to Canada in less than a month; I’m on it! — Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) February 15, 2021 × India boasts of several vaccine manufacturing facilities and is fast emerging as a key supplier to the world. Canada, which has recorded more than 825,000 coronavirus cases and 21,000 deaths so far, does not yet have a vaccine manufacturing facility of its own and is reliant on foreign suppliers. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week assured Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau that India would do its best to supply Canada with the vaccines, potentially easing shortages faced in the country. Canada has so far ordered vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna.

India's Serum says will ship AstraZeneca vaccine to Canada in 'less than a month'

AstraZeneca, the British maker of a Covid vaccine with&nbsp;Oxford&nbsp;University announced on Saturday that&nbsp;has launched a study to assess the safety and immune response of the jab&nbsp;in children for the first time.

The new mid-stage trial will determine whether the vaccine is effective on people between the ages of 6 and 17, according to an emailed statement from the university.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">Around 300 volunteers will be enrolled and first inoculations are expected this month, Oxford said.</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-perfect-but-saves-lives-astrazeneca-says-of-covid-vaccine-362913">Not perfect, but saves lives, AstraZeneca says of Covid vaccine</a></div>

The two-dose Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been hailed as a 'vaccine for the world' because it is cheaper and easier to distribute than some rivals.

AstraZeneca has a target to produce 3 billion doses this year and aims to produce over 200 million doses per month by April.

The production of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine has not been perfect but the shot will have a big impact on the pandemic, its chief executive said on Thursday, as the drugmaker pledged to double output by April and the African Union gave its backing for the shot.

The two-dose inoculation, developed with&nbsp;Oxford&nbsp;University, has been hailed as a "vaccine for the world" because it is cheaper and easier to distribute than some rivals.

But its rapid approval in Europe and elsewhere has been clouded by doubts over its most effective dosage and the interval between doses.

Data at the weekend also showed it was less effective against a fast-spreading variant of the virus in South Africa, prompting the country to pause the rollout of the shot. The company has also been embroiled in a row with the European Union oversupply delays but Soriot said AstraZeneca was working to ramp up output as fast as possible.

AstraZeneca, the British maker of a Covid vaccine with Oxford University announced on Saturday that has launched a study to assess the safety and immune response of the jab in children for the first time.

AstraZeneca, the British maker of a Covid vaccine with Oxford University announced on Saturday that has launched a study to assess the safety and immune response of the jab in children for the first time. The new mid-stage trial will determine whether the vaccine is effective on people between the ages of 6 and 17, according to an emailed statement from the university. Around 300 volunteers will be enrolled and first inoculations are expected this month, Oxford said. Also read: Not perfect, but saves lives, AstraZeneca says of Covid vaccine The two-dose Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been hailed as a 'vaccine for the world' because it is cheaper and easier to distribute than some rivals. AstraZeneca has a target to produce 3 billion doses this year and aims to produce over 200 million doses per month by April. The production of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine has not been perfect but the shot will have a big impact on the pandemic, its chief executive said on Thursday, as the drugmaker pledged to double output by April and the African Union gave its backing for the shot. The two-dose inoculation, developed with Oxford University, has been hailed as a "vaccine for the world" because it is cheaper and easier to distribute than some rivals. But its rapid approval in Europe and elsewhere has been clouded by doubts over its most effective dosage and the interval between doses. Data at the weekend also showed it was less effective against a fast-spreading variant of the virus in South Africa, prompting the country to pause the rollout of the shot. The company has also been embroiled in a row with the European Union oversupply delays but Soriot said AstraZeneca was working to ramp up output as fast as possible.

In a first, Oxford University to test COVID-19 vaccine response among children

Right after South Africa's decision to halt AstraZeneca's vaccine roll-out, several western governments have rushed to offer support to the halted vaccination. Health Minister of France took the first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Paris.

Countries voice support over AstraZeneca efficacy

South Africa has temporarily halted the rollout of AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccine after a study shows that the jab provided minimal protection against COVID-19 variant found in the country.

South Africa received over a million AstraZeneca shots

Pakistan is gearing up to begin an inoculation drive. The county has secured 17 million doses of Oxford university and Astrazeneca's COVID-19 vaccine.

Pakistan secures 17 million doses of Astrazeneca's vaccine

Vietnam's health ministry has approved the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for domestic inoculation -- the first vaccine against Covid-19 to be approved in the country -- as it battles its biggest outbreak yet.

The AstraZeneca-Oxford coronavirus vaccine is cheaper than some others and can be stored at fridge temperature, which makes it easier to transport and use, particularly in developing countries.

Vietnam has recorded 208 new cases since reporting two locally transmitted cases in the northern province of Hai Duong on Thursday, including 62 cases reported on Saturday.

That is a rapid spread given Vietnam has recorded just 1,767 cases and 35 deaths since the disease was first detected a year ago, including 901 locally transmitted infections, thanks to mass testing and a centralised quarantine programme.

The government statement said materials and equipment designed to combat a hypothetical scenario of as many as 10,000 cases would be deployed before the Lunar New Year holiday. The coronavirus taskforce chief had previously advocated a plan designed to prepare for a scenario of 30,000 cases.

Vietnam on Saturday locked down two remote districts in the coffee-growing Central Highlands province of Gia Lai after at least five people there tested positive for the virus.

Authorities rushed to test thousands of people as authorities confirmed the outbreak had spread to Hanoi, where the ruling party is holding its five-yearly congress to pick a new leadership.

In another development, state media reported the Congress would end on Monday, a day earlier than planned.

The reports did not say why, and were later removed from the websites of official state news outlets.

The Vietnamese health ministry approved a vaccine from AstraZeneca PLC for domestic inoculation hours after Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said late on Friday that the country must have a vaccine in the first quarter.

The government had previously said it was in talks to procure 30 million doses of the vaccine.

The port city of Haiphong, where a case linked to the new outbreak has been detected, also said it would separately seek to secure 2 million vaccine doses for its population.

Vietnam's health ministry has approved the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for domestic inoculation -- the first vaccine against Covid-19 to be approved in the country -- as it battles its biggest outbreak yet.

Vietnam's health ministry has approved the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for domestic inoculation -- the first vaccine against Covid-19 to be approved in the country -- as it battles its biggest outbreak yet. The AstraZeneca-Oxford coronavirus vaccine is cheaper than some others and can be stored at fridge temperature, which makes it easier to transport and use, particularly in developing countries. Vietnam has recorded 208 new cases since reporting two locally transmitted cases in the northern province of Hai Duong on Thursday, including 62 cases reported on Saturday. That is a rapid spread given Vietnam has recorded just 1,767 cases and 35 deaths since the disease was first detected a year ago, including 901 locally transmitted infections, thanks to mass testing and a centralised quarantine programme. The government statement said materials and equipment designed to combat a hypothetical scenario of as many as 10,000 cases would be deployed before the Lunar New Year holiday. The coronavirus taskforce chief had previously advocated a plan designed to prepare for a scenario of 30,000 cases. Vietnam on Saturday locked down two remote districts in the coffee-growing Central Highlands province of Gia Lai after at least five people there tested positive for the virus. Authorities rushed to test thousands of people as authorities confirmed the outbreak had spread to Hanoi, where the ruling party is holding its five-yearly congress to pick a new leadership. In another development, state media reported the Congress would end on Monday, a day earlier than planned. The reports did not say why, and were later removed from the websites of official state news outlets. The Vietnamese health ministry approved a vaccine from AstraZeneca PLC for domestic inoculation hours after Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said late on Friday that the country must have a vaccine in the first quarter. The government had previously said it was in talks to procure 30 million doses of the vaccine. The port city of Haiphong, where a case linked to the new outbreak has been detected, also said it would separately seek to secure 2 million vaccine doses for its population.

Vietnam approves AstraZeneca vaccine

Germany's vaccine commission said the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine should not be given to people older than 65 years.

'AstraZeneca vaccine shouldn't be given to over-65s', says Germany's vaccine commission

AstraZeneca&nbsp;Plc has informed European Union officials on Friday it would cut deliveries of its COVID-19 vaccine to the bloc by 60 per cent&nbsp;to 31 million doses in the first quarter of the year due to production problems, a senior official told Reuters.

The decrease deals another blow to Europe's COVID-19 vaccination drive after Pfizer Inc and partner BioNTech SE slowed supplies of their vaccine to the bloc this week, saying the move was needed because of work to ramp up production.

AstraZeneca&nbsp;was expected to deliver about 80 million doses to the 27 EU countries by the end of March, the official who was involved in the talks said.

The official added&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;planned to begin deliveries to the EU from Feb. 15, in line with original plans.

The company confirmed the drop in deliveries without giving specific details on the magnitude of the shortfall.

"Initial volumes will be lower than originally anticipated due to reduced yields at a manufacturing site within our European supply chain," an&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;spokesman said in a written statement.

"We will be supplying tens of millions of doses in February and March to the European Union, as we continue to ramp up production volumes," he said of the vaccine developed with Oxford University.

The Britain-based drugmaker had also agreed to deliver more than 80 million doses in the second quarter. On Friday, the EU official, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said the company was not able to provide updated delivery targets for the April to June period due to the production issues.

AstraZeneca&nbsp;told EU officials at a meeting that the cut was due to production problems at a vaccine factory in Belgium run by its partner Novasep, the EU official said. Novasep was not immediately available to comment.

EU governments "expressed deep dissatisfaction with this," EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said on Twitter after the announcement.

The EU drug regulator is due to decide on the approval of&nbsp;AstraZeneca's vaccine on Jan. 29. It has already received emergency authorisation in Britain.

The EU has a deal to purchase at least 300 million doses from&nbsp;AstraZeneca, with an option for an additional 100 million, part of the company's global commitments to supply more than 3 billion doses.

AstraZeneca Plc has informed European Union officials on Friday it would cut deliveries of its COVID-19 vaccine to the bloc by 60 per cent to 31 million doses in the first quarter of the year due to production problems, a senior official told Reuters.

AstraZeneca Plc has informed European Union officials on Friday it would cut deliveries of its COVID-19 vaccine to the bloc by 60 per cent to 31 million doses in the first quarter of the year due to production problems, a senior official told Reuters. The decrease deals another blow to Europe's COVID-19 vaccination drive after Pfizer Inc and partner BioNTech SE slowed supplies of their vaccine to the bloc this week, saying the move was needed because of work to ramp up production. AstraZeneca was expected to deliver about 80 million doses to the 27 EU countries by the end of March, the official who was involved in the talks said. The official added AstraZeneca planned to begin deliveries to the EU from Feb. 15, in line with original plans. The company confirmed the drop in deliveries without giving specific details on the magnitude of the shortfall. "Initial volumes will be lower than originally anticipated due to reduced yields at a manufacturing site within our European supply chain," an AstraZeneca spokesman said in a written statement. "We will be supplying tens of millions of doses in February and March to the European Union, as we continue to ramp up production volumes," he said of the vaccine developed with Oxford University. The Britain-based drugmaker had also agreed to deliver more than 80 million doses in the second quarter. On Friday, the EU official, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said the company was not able to provide updated delivery targets for the April to June period due to the production issues. AstraZeneca told EU officials at a meeting that the cut was due to production problems at a vaccine factory in Belgium run by its partner Novasep, the EU official said. Novasep was not immediately available to comment. EU governments "expressed deep dissatisfaction with this," EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said on Twitter after the announcement. The EU drug regulator is due to decide on the approval of AstraZeneca's vaccine on Jan. 29. It has already received emergency authorisation in Britain. The EU has a deal to purchase at least 300 million doses from AstraZeneca, with an option for an additional 100 million, part of the company's global commitments to supply more than 3 billion doses.

AstraZeneca to cut COVID-19 vaccine delivery to EU by 60%: Report

Brazil`s health regulator Anvisa said late on Saturday it had approved the import of 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, although the jab is not yet approved for use in the country. 
 
Anvisa said it approved the importation request from federal government-affiliated biomedical centre Fiocruz on Thursday. 
 
Importing the doses prior to approval will enable vaccination to begin as soon as Anvisa okays its use, the regulator said. Brazil has yet to approve any vaccine. 
 
Fiocruz will apply for emergency use of the vaccine by Wednesday, its president, Nísia Trindade, said last week. 
 
Brazil has recorded the second-deadliest outbreak of COVID-19 after only the United States. South America`s largest country has the third-highest tally of coronavirus cases, with the health ministry registering more than 7.7 million, after the United States and India.

Brazil`s health regulator Anvisa said late on Saturday it had approved the import of 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, although the jab is not yet approved for use in the country.

Brazil`s health regulator Anvisa said late on Saturday it had approved the import of 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, although the jab is not yet approved for use in the country. Anvisa said it approved the importation request from federal government-affiliated biomedical centre Fiocruz on Thursday. Importing the doses prior to approval will enable vaccination to begin as soon as Anvisa okays its use, the regulator said. Brazil has yet to approve any vaccine. Fiocruz will apply for emergency use of the vaccine by Wednesday, its president, Nísia Trindade, said last week. Brazil has recorded the second-deadliest outbreak of COVID-19 after only the United States. South America`s largest country has the third-highest tally of coronavirus cases, with the health ministry registering more than 7.7 million, after the United States and India.

Brazil to import two million AstraZeneca vaccine doses, not yet approved for use

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday said that Indian government had approved emergency use of AstraZeneca/ Oxford University coronavirus vaccine, also known as Covishield in India. The minister said that the government had given a go-ahead on Friday.

India: AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine approved for emergency use

British regulators have approved the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine as the country looks to accelerate its inoculation campaign. But Indian regulators have sought more data from the makers of the jab. WION's Palki Sharma has the full report.

Gravitas: Britain approves Astrazeneca-Oxford vaccine

Astra and its CEO are facing scrutiny as the drugmaker responds to growing confusion over the vaccine.

Astrazeneca likely to run additional global covid-19 vaccine trial

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Pune-based Serum Institute of India on November 28,&nbsp;a senior official said on Thursday.

The&nbsp;Serum&nbsp;Institute of India, the world's largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume,&nbsp;has partnered with global pharma giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccine</a>.

According to&nbsp;Serum's Chief Executive Adar Poonawalla, it will&nbsp;first focus on supplying AstraZeneca Plc's COVID-19 vaccine to Indians before distributing it to other countries.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/90-efficacy-of-oxfords-coronavirus-vaccine-came-from-younger-group-345535" hreflang="en">90% efficacy of Oxford's coronavirus vaccine came from younger group</a>

The Central Drug Standard Control Organisation has granted permission for the manufacture of the COVID-19 vaccine for the pre-clinical test, examination, and analysis to seven firms, two of which are the Serum Institute of India (SII) and the Gennova Biopharmaceuticals.

"We have received a confirmation about PM Modi's visit to the Serum Institute of India on Saturday, but his minute-to-minute program is yet to be received," Pune Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/serum-institute-to-focus-on-supplying-covid-19-vaccine-to-india-first-344956">Serum Institute to focus on supplying COVID-19 vaccine to India first</a>

On Tuesday, Rao said there was a possibility of the PM's visit to Pune, and if that happens, it would be aimed at reviewing the status of the vaccine candidate for coronavirus infection and to know about its launch, production and distribution mechanisms.

Rao had also informed that ambassadors and envoys from 100 countries will visit the Serum Institute of India and the Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd here on December 4.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;and Oxford University have acknowledged a manufacturing error that is raising questions about preliminary results of their experimental COVID-19 vaccine.

AstraZeneca is likely to run an additional global trial to assess the efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine, its chief executive Pascal Soriot was quoted as saying on Thursday after questions over the results from its late-stage study.

Instead of adding the trial arm to an ongoing US&nbsp;process, a new study would be run to evaluate a lower dosage that performed better than a full amount in AstraZeneca's studies, Soriot said.

On November 23, British-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford had said that the Coronavirus vaccine they are developing is 70.4 per cent effective, on an average, in preventing COVID-19, as per the interim analysis of its late-stage clinical trials conducted in the UK and Brazil.

A statement describing the error made no mention of why some study participants didn't receive as much vaccine in the first of two shots as expected.

In a surprise, the group of volunteers that got a lower dose seemed to be much better protected than the volunteers who got two full doses.

In the low-dose group, AstraZeneca said, the vaccine appeared to be 90 per cent effective.

In the group that got two full doses, the vaccine appeared to be 62 per cent effective.

But the way in which the results were arrived at and reported by the companies has led to pointed questions from experts.

The partial results announced on Monday are from large ongoing studies in the UK and Brazil designed to determine the optimal dose of vaccine, as well as examine safety and effectiveness.

Multiple combinations and doses were tried in the volunteers.

They were compared to others who were given a meningitis vaccine or a saline shot.

The dose of AstraZeneca Plc's Covid antibody that demonstrated the most significant level of adequacy was tried in a more youthful populace than a greater portion that indicated less viability, as per the top of the US&nbsp;Activity Warp Speed program.&nbsp;

The vaccine being&nbsp;developed by&nbsp;Oxford University was 90 per cent&nbsp;viable when a half-portion was given before a full-portion booster, the partners said&nbsp;on Monday.

However, that system was controlled to members in a gathering whose age was covered at 55, Warp Speed's Moncef Slaoui said Tuesday in a call with columnists.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Pune-based Serum Institute of India on November 28, a senior official said on Thursday. The Serum Institute of India, the world's largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume, has partnered with global pharma giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Pune-based Serum Institute of India on November 28, a senior official said on Thursday. The Serum Institute of India, the world's largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume, has partnered with global pharma giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University for the COVID-19 vaccine. According to Serum's Chief Executive Adar Poonawalla, it will first focus on supplying AstraZeneca Plc's COVID-19 vaccine to Indians before distributing it to other countries. Also read: 90% efficacy of Oxford's coronavirus vaccine came from younger group The Central Drug Standard Control Organisation has granted permission for the manufacture of the COVID-19 vaccine for the pre-clinical test, examination, and analysis to seven firms, two of which are the Serum Institute of India (SII) and the Gennova Biopharmaceuticals. "We have received a confirmation about PM Modi's visit to the Serum Institute of India on Saturday, but his minute-to-minute program is yet to be received," Pune Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao said. Also read: Serum Institute to focus on supplying COVID-19 vaccine to India first On Tuesday, Rao said there was a possibility of the PM's visit to Pune, and if that happens, it would be aimed at reviewing the status of the vaccine candidate for coronavirus infection and to know about its launch, production and distribution mechanisms. Rao had also informed that ambassadors and envoys from 100 countries will visit the Serum Institute of India and the Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd here on December 4. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca and Oxford University have acknowledged a manufacturing error that is raising questions about preliminary results of their experimental COVID-19 vaccine. AstraZeneca is likely to run an additional global trial to assess the efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine, its chief executive Pascal Soriot was quoted as saying on Thursday after questions over the results from its late-stage study. Instead of adding the trial arm to an ongoing US process, a new study would be run to evaluate a lower dosage that performed better than a full amount in AstraZeneca's studies, Soriot said. On November 23, British-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford had said that the Coronavirus vaccine they are developing is 70.4 per cent effective, on an average, in preventing COVID-19, as per the interim analysis of its late-stage clinical trials conducted in the UK and Brazil. A statement describing the error made no mention of why some study participants didn't receive as much vaccine in the first of two shots as expected. In a surprise, the group of volunteers that got a lower dose seemed to be much better protected than the volunteers who got two full doses. In the low-dose group, AstraZeneca said, the vaccine appeared to be 90 per cent effective. In the group that got two full doses, the vaccine appeared to be 62 per cent effective. But the way in which the results were arrived at and reported by the companies has led to pointed questions from experts. The partial results announced on Monday are from large ongoing studies in the UK and Brazil designed to determine the optimal dose of vaccine, as well as examine safety and effectiveness. Multiple combinations and doses were tried in the volunteers. They were compared to others who were given a meningitis vaccine or a saline shot. The dose of AstraZeneca Plc's Covid antibody that demonstrated the most significant level of adequacy was tried in a more youthful populace than a greater portion that indicated less viability, as per the top of the US Activity Warp Speed program. The vaccine being developed by Oxford University was 90 per cent viable when a half-portion was given before a full-portion booster, the partners said on Monday. However, that system was controlled to members in a gathering whose age was covered at 55, Warp Speed's Moncef Slaoui said Tuesday in a call with columnists.

Coronavirus vaccine tracker: PM Modi to visit Serum Institute of India on November 28

The dose of AstraZeneca Plc's Covid antibody that demonstrated the most significant level of adequacy was tried in a more youthful populace than a greater portion that indicated less viability, as per the top of the US&nbsp;Activity Warp Speed program.&nbsp;

The vaccine being&nbsp;developed by&nbsp;Oxford University was 90 per cent&nbsp;viable when a half-portion was given before a full-portion booster, the partners said&nbsp;on Monday.

However, that system was controlled to members in a gathering whose age was covered at 55, Warp Speed's Moncef Slaoui said Tuesday in a call with columnists.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca-acknowledges-manufacturing-error-study-results-affected-345425">Covid vaccine: AstraZeneca accepts manufacturing error, study results affected</a>

Analysts have been perplexing about the AstraZeneca report since it was delivered, asking why a more modest portion of the immunisation may have had all the earmarks of being more powerful than a bigger one. The greater part of the individuals in the preliminary got a fake treatment or the routine of two full dosages, which was 62 per cent&nbsp;successful. That gathering included individuals who were more established than 55, Slaoui said.&nbsp;

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oxford-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-shows-70-efficacy-can-be-90-effective-trial-data-reveals-344807"> Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine shows 70% efficacy; can be 90% effective, trial data reveals</a>

"I don't really accept that the FDA will take a gander at any preliminary where the portion, or the age accomplices, or some other variable were changed mid-preliminary, unintentionally or purposely," said Geoffrey Porges, a SVB Leerink examiner who anticipated Monday that the US&nbsp;Food and Drug organization would not satisfactory the immunization.&nbsp;

AstraZeneca repeated that the information will be distributed in a companion checked on diary at the appointed time. The drugmaker's American depositary receipts fell as much as 2.2&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;starting at 4 p.m. in New York.&nbsp;

There was no age breakdown given for the two gatherings from AstraZeneca when the organization revealed its outcomes on Monday. The underlying half-portion was utilized in certain individuals due to a blunder in the amount of immunization put into certain vials, Slaoui said.&nbsp;

"There are various factors that we have to comprehend, and what has been the part of every last one of them in accomplishing the distinction inadequacy," Slaoui said.&nbsp;

More seasoned individuals have a more vulnerable reaction than more youthful individuals to certain immunizations, similar to influenza shots. Results from a stage 2 investigation of the Astra-Oxford immunisation distributed a week ago in The Lancet clinical diary affirmed a solid reaction to the antibody in more seasoned individuals.

The dose of AstraZeneca Plc's Covid antibody that demonstrated the most significant level of adequacy was tried in a more youthful populace than a greater portion that indicated less viability, as per the top of the US Activity Warp Speed program.

The dose of AstraZeneca Plc's Covid antibody that demonstrated the most significant level of adequacy was tried in a more youthful populace than a greater portion that indicated less viability, as per the top of the US Activity Warp Speed program. The vaccine being developed by Oxford University was 90 per cent viable when a half-portion was given before a full-portion booster, the partners said on Monday. However, that system was controlled to members in a gathering whose age was covered at 55, Warp Speed's Moncef Slaoui said Tuesday in a call with columnists. Also read| Covid vaccine: AstraZeneca accepts manufacturing error, study results affected Analysts have been perplexing about the AstraZeneca report since it was delivered, asking why a more modest portion of the immunisation may have had all the earmarks of being more powerful than a bigger one. The greater part of the individuals in the preliminary got a fake treatment or the routine of two full dosages, which was 62 per cent successful. That gathering included individuals who were more established than 55, Slaoui said. Also read: Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine shows 70% efficacy; can be 90% effective, trial data reveals "I don't really accept that the FDA will take a gander at any preliminary where the portion, or the age accomplices, or some other variable were changed mid-preliminary, unintentionally or purposely," said Geoffrey Porges, a SVB Leerink examiner who anticipated Monday that the US Food and Drug organization would not satisfactory the immunization. AstraZeneca repeated that the information will be distributed in a companion checked on diary at the appointed time. The drugmaker's American depositary receipts fell as much as 2.2 per cent starting at 4 p.m. in New York. There was no age breakdown given for the two gatherings from AstraZeneca when the organization revealed its outcomes on Monday. The underlying half-portion was utilized in certain individuals due to a blunder in the amount of immunization put into certain vials, Slaoui said. "There are various factors that we have to comprehend, and what has been the part of every last one of them in accomplishing the distinction inadequacy," Slaoui said. More seasoned individuals have a more vulnerable reaction than more youthful individuals to certain immunizations, similar to influenza shots. Results from a stage 2 investigation of the Astra-Oxford immunisation distributed a week ago in The Lancet clinical diary affirmed a solid reaction to the antibody in more seasoned individuals.

90% efficacy of Oxford's coronavirus vaccine came from younger group

AstraZeneca has announced that its vaccine candidate has shown an average efficacy of about 70% , The vaccine candidate has been developed along with the Oxford. The potential vaccine against the novel coronavirus maybe around 90 percent effective, the company said citing interim analysis of results from late-stage clinical trials.

Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine shows 70% efficacy

Britain’s AstraZeneca said on Monday its vaccine for the novel coronavirus could be around 90% effective without any serious side effects.

AstraZeneca says COVID-19 vaccine candidate is 70% effective

The Oxford University and British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca have announced on Monday that their vaccine for the novel coronavirus could be around 70% effective under one dosing regimen.

Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is 70% effective

This was the first indication that the US trial will remain on hold until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and a safety panel investigate the case.

What's the status of Oxford-AstraZeneca trials in US; Detailed report

After it "paused" its clinical trial over the vaccine this week, AstraZeneca's CEO Pascal Soriot said today that a vaccine was still possible by the "end of this year, early next year".

After it "paused" its clinical trial over the vaccine this week, AstraZeneca's CEO Pascal Soriot said today that a vaccine was still possible by the "end of this year, early next year". Watch: The company stopped its late-stage trials after a participant in Britain fell ill. The volunteer reportedly had a rare spinal inflammatory disorder called transverse myelitis, but a final diagnosis is pending with more tests underway. Also Read: AstraZeneca 'voluntarily pauses' clinical trials for Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine US National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins told a Senate committee hearing that "work was underway to see if anybody else who received that vaccination or any other might have had a similar finding of a spinal cord problem." Pascal Soriot said the company should know before the end of the year whether its experimental vaccine protects people against coronavirus. "We could still have a vaccine by the end of this year, early next year," he added. Also Read: Trials of Oxford University's COVID-19 vaccine 'paused', what now? Soriot said pausing trials was not a new phenomena. "It's very common, actually, and many experts will tell you this," Soriot said, adding: "The difference with other vaccine trials is, the whole world is not watching them, of course. They stop, they study, and they restart." AstraZeneca's CEO informed that it has capacity for 3 billion doses at sites around the world to prevent governments from restricting distribution. "AstraZeneca would supply vaccines to countries at the same time to ensure a fair and equitable distribution," Soriot said.

Could still have a vaccine by the end of the year, early next year: AstraZeneca CEO

Pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca on Tuesday said that it had to &nbsp;"voluntarily paused" a randomized clinical trial of its coronavirus vaccine. The company called it a routine action after a volunteer developed an unexplained illness.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-handled-covid-19-openly-and-transparently-xi-jinping-325898" hreflang="en">China handled COVID-19 openly and transparently: Xi Jinping</a>

AstraZeneca is developing the drug alongside the University of Oxford and is considered the frontrunner in the global race for a vaccine against coronavirus.&nbsp;

"As part of the ongoing randomized, controlled global trials of the Oxford coronavirus vaccine, our standard review process was triggered and we voluntarily paused vaccination to allow review of safety data by an independent committee," a spokesperson said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-releases-first-batch-of-covid-19-vaccine-sputnik-v-into-public-325883" hreflang="en">Russia releases first batch of Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V into public</a>

"This is a routine action which has to happen whenever there is a potentially unexplained illness in one of the trials, while it is investigated, ensuring we maintain the integrity of the trials."

The company spokesperson also added that in large trials, illnesses will sometimes happen by chance but must be reviewed independently.

"We are working to expedite the review of the single event to minimise any potential impact on the trial timeline," the spokesperson said.

The nature and severity of illness or where the patient was not clear immediately.&nbsp;

Pauses during clinical trials are common. But, this is thought to be the first time it has happened for a Covid-19 vaccine trial.

AstraZeneca is one of nine companies currently in late-stage Phase 3 trials for their vaccine candidates.

Pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca on Tuesday said that it had to "voluntarily paused" a randomized clinical trial of its coronavirus vaccine. The company called it a routine action after a volunteer developed an unexplained illness.

Pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca on Tuesday said that it had to "voluntarily paused" a randomized clinical trial of its coronavirus vaccine. The company called it a routine action after a volunteer developed an unexplained illness. Also read: China handled COVID-19 openly and transparently: Xi Jinping AstraZeneca is developing the drug alongside the University of Oxford and is considered the frontrunner in the global race for a vaccine against coronavirus. "As part of the ongoing randomized, controlled global trials of the Oxford coronavirus vaccine, our standard review process was triggered and we voluntarily paused vaccination to allow review of safety data by an independent committee," a spokesperson said. Also read: Russia releases first batch of Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V into public "This is a routine action which has to happen whenever there is a potentially unexplained illness in one of the trials, while it is investigated, ensuring we maintain the integrity of the trials." The company spokesperson also added that in large trials, illnesses will sometimes happen by chance but must be reviewed independently. "We are working to expedite the review of the single event to minimise any potential impact on the trial timeline," the spokesperson said. The nature and severity of illness or where the patient was not clear immediately. Pauses during clinical trials are common. But, this is thought to be the first time it has happened for a Covid-19 vaccine trial. AstraZeneca is one of nine companies currently in late-stage Phase 3 trials for their vaccine candidates.

AstraZeneca 'voluntarily pauses' clinical trials for Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine after unexplained illness

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