What’s next?
While AstraZeneca has received UK approval, receiving FDA and EMA approval from the U.S and the EU will be key.
Before the availability of the vaccine, AstraZeneca had promised not to make a profit from the vaccine. With low storage and transportation costs, each dose is estimated to be £3-£4. This is significantly lower than Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc.’s vaccines.
For this very reason, the AstraZeneca/University of Oxford vaccine makes up the lion’s share of the doses that COVAX has secured.
Production numbers and approvals will now be the next area of focus for the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Poorer nations will be reliant upon the AstraZeneca vaccine to end the spread of the virus.
For Johnson & Johnson, a one-dose vaccine could be in circulation by February, according to reports. As clinical trials continue, it will come down to the numbers and safety. The head of Operation Warp Speed delivered the optimistic view, while also stating that the AstraZeneca vaccine could receive FDA approval by April.
The Latest COVID-19 Numbers
At the time of writing, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 83,060,556. The total number of U.S cases has risen to 20,216,991, with the total number of related deaths rising to 350,778.
Behind the U.S, India saw the total number of cases rise to 10,267,283, with Brazil reporting 7,619,970 cases in total.
For France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, the total number of cases stood at 8,316,294, with 221,846 related deaths.
Across the United Kingdom, the total number of cases stood at 2,432,888, with 72,548 related deaths.