TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ The coronavirus vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca has been authorised for emergency use in the United Kingdom, marking another step in the global battle against the pandemic. The shot is expected to be rolled out next week and would be added to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine which has so far been given to 600,000 people in the UK, according to government statistics.
In a statement, AstraZeneca said the first doses of the vaccine were being released Wednesday so that vaccinations may begin early in the New Year. It added that it aims to supply millions of doses in the first quarter as part of its deal with the UK government to supply up to 100 million doses in total.
Cases have surged in London and southern England with significant pressure being placed on hospitals. A new coronavirus variant found in the UK is reportedly more transmissible and has led to travel restrictions for people wanting to leave the country. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine allows the UK to significantly ramp up its inoculation program. Its also cheaper than others and does not need to be kept at ultra-low temperatures.
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