Oxford University’s AstraZeneca vaccine approved in UK

Approval means the vaccine is both safe and effective.

The Government has ordered 100 million doses – enough to vaccinate 50 million people.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the rollout will start on January 4.

The Department of Health and Social Care reported that second doses of the Oxford vaccine will be within 12 weeks of the first.

Brilliant to end 2020 with such a moment of hope: the @UniofOxford / @AstraZeneca #coronavirus vaccine has today been authorised for use by @mhragovuk

The #coronavirus vaccine is our way out of the pandemic - now we need to hold our nerve while we get through this together.

— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) December 30, 2020

It is truly fantastic news - and a triumph for British science - that the @UniofOxford /@AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved for use.

We will now move to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible. pic.twitter.com/cR4pRdZJlT

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 30, 2020

Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said: “The regulator’s assessment that this is a safe and effective vaccine is a landmark moment, and an endorsement of the huge effort from a devoted international team of researchers and our dedicated trial participants.

“Though this is just the beginning, we will start to get ahead of the pandemic, protect health and economies when the vulnerable are vaccinated everywhere, as many as possible as soon possible.”

Earlier this month, the first peer-reviewed results of phase 3 human trials of the jab were published in medical journal, The Lancet.

Interim results from pooled studies showed the vaccine was 70.4 per cent effective, on average, in preventing coronavirus after two doses were given.

For people given two full doses of the jab in one study, the vaccine was 62.1 per cent effective.

In a study where people received a half dose followed by a full dose, the vaccine was 90 per cent effective.

See also: Test and Trace miss 1-in-3 Oxfordshire coronavirus contacts

The vaccine uses a harmless, weakened version of a common virus which causes a cold in chimpanzees.

Compared to the Pfizer vaccine, which is currently being rolled out across the country, the Oxford vaccine is cheaper and easy to mass produce, and unlike the Pfizer jab, it can be stored in a normal fridge.

The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at -70c. 

More to follow.

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