Oxford-AstraZeneca

UK medicines regulator has approved the coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and drugmaker AstraZeneca, for emergency supply. 

Clinical trial results showed that the jab is up to 90% effective in preventing COVID-19. 

This is the second vaccine to be approved in the UK after the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was given the go-ahead back in December. 

Britain has bought 100 million doses of the vaccine, and according to British Health Secretary Matt Hancock, the new jab will be rolled out from 4th January. 

Speaking to Sky News, Hancock said that the news “brings forward the day when we can get our lives back to normal.”

“We can say now with confidence that we can get out of this by spring.”

In a statement, AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said: “Today is an important day for millions of people in the UK who will get access to this new vaccine. It has been shown to be effective, well-tolerated, simple to administer and is supplied by AstraZeneca at no profit.”

Featured Image: AstraZeneca.com

Related

trade shipping container

Malta’s trade deficit narrows as import shifts and export rebalancing continue in 2026

February 9, 2026
by Sam Vassallo

Over the full year, Malta’s trade deficit narrowed by €444.1 million compared with 2024

Thinking of housing as part of an urban system: what Malta can learn from Singapore’s public housing

February 6, 2026
by Sam Vassallo

Five lessons we can take from the nation twice the size of Malta

Ryanair cuts Malta link to Serbia’s Niš

January 5, 2026
by Sam Vassallo

The low-cost airline is slashing some major routes in Germany, Spain, Belgium, Portugal and Malta