Oxford University develops Covid-19 vaccine produced by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca | Photo: AFP
Oxford-AstraZeneca has submitted for approval to use the Covid-19 vaccine in the UK. They have submitted to the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
UK Health Minister Matt Hancock made the announcement on Wednesday. This is stated in the report of the news agency AFP.
At a news conference, Matt Hancock said he was pleased to announce that they had submitted complete information to the MHRA for approval of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the UK.
A few days ago, The Daily Telegraph quoted senior UK government officials as saying that the MHRA could approve the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on December 28 or 29.
UK health officials say the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine if approved, could act as a “game-changer”. Because, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will be much easier to store, transport, and deliver than Pfizer-BioNTech.
The Covid-19 vaccine invented by Oxford University is being produced by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.
The UK government has ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.
On December 2, the UK was the first country in the world to approve the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. The vaccine was introduced in the country on December 8.
Many other countries, including the United States, have since approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine should be stored at a temperature of minus 70 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine can only be stored in the refrigerator.
Like Pfizer, the Oxford vaccine also requires two doses. In the case of Pfizer, the interval between the two doses is three weeks. In the case of Oxford, this interval is four weeks.
The Daily Telegraph says that if the Oxford vaccine is approved, it will give confidence to many countries in the world to fight against Covid-19.
