UK Covid-19 vaccinations: Latest figures
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reportedly expected to speak with EU leaders this week amid a row over Covid-19 vaccine supplies.
EU leaders are expected to hold virtual talks on Thursday to discuss the possibility of a ban on Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine exports to the UK.
However, the prime minister is expected make the case against blocking exports before the discussions take place, according to the BBC.
Meanwhile, a much-awaited US trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has found the jab to be both safe and effective.
The vaccine was found to be 79 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic illness in the US trial and was found to be 100 per cent effective at preventing severe or critical disease and hospitalisation.
The study also did not identify safety concerns around blood clots, which should provide some reassurance amid to European countries that temporarily paused the vaccine’s rollout over fears of a possible connection.
US trial finds AstraZeneca vaccine safe and highly effective
A much-awaited US trial of the AstraZeneca vaccine has found the jab to be both safe and highly effective.
In a study involving more than 30,000 participants, the vaccine was found to be 79 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19 and 100 per cent effective at preventing severe illness and hospitalisation.
Researchers also said they found no concerns associated with blood clots, which should provide further reassurance to countries that temporarily paused the rollout of the jab over fears of a link.
Read more on the study’s findings here:
Chantal Da Silva22 March 2021 08:13
Boris Johnson to call EU leaders amid vaccine exports row
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to speak with EU leaders this week amid a row over Covid-19 vaccine supplies. EU leaders are expected to hold virtual talks on Thursday to discuss the possibility of a ban on exports of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to the UK.
With the EU having struggled to get the supplies of the vaccine it had expected, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the EU has the power to “forbid’ the export of vaccine doses.
Mr Johnson is hoping to speak with EU counterparts to make the case against such a move before the EU talks can take place according to the BBC.
Chantal Da Silva22 March 2021 08:03
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live blog tracking the latest developments on Covid-19.
Chantal Da Silva22 March 2021 07:49
