Britain seeks extra AstraZeneca shots to combat 'beta' COVID-19 variant


  • World
  • Wednesday, 02 Jun 2021

FILE PHOTO: Vials labelled "Astra Zeneca COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine" and a syringe are seen in front of a displayed AstraZeneca logo, in this illustration photo taken March 14, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is in talks with Oxford and AstraZeneca for additional doses of their COVID-19 vaccine that has been modified to better target the "beta" coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa, and it will fund trials of the shots.

Britain has previously secured 100 million doses of the vaccine, developed at the University of Oxford and licenced to AstraZeneca, and the health ministry said the extra doses under discussion would be tailored to target the B.1.351 variant.

Save 30% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 9.73/month

Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.63/month

Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Supertanker Skipper seized by US near Venezuela is heading to Houston, sources say
WFP secures 33 mln USD to support South Sudanese facing food insecurity
Hundreds of storks found dead near Madrid amid wider bird flu surge
EIB to boost lending for EU defence projects in 2026
South African authority intercepts human trafficking operations at OR Tambo Airport
Morocco secures 270 mln euro loan from African Development Bank to upgrade airports
African entrepreneurs take center stage at Rwanda-hosted business competition
Austrian former tycoon Benko will appeal fraud conviction, lawyer says
1st LD: At least 2 dead, several trapped after multi-story temple extension collapses in S. Africa's Durban
U.S. operations in international waters challenge international law: Spanish PM

Others Also Read