영국, 아스트라제네카 백신 최초승인…"한국도 1천만명분 구입"<br /><br />The vaccine jointly developed by U.K. pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Oxford University has been approved for use in Britain,... with the first doses expected to be administered next Monday.<br />Following the news,... other countries are looking to approve its use as well.<br />Lee Seung-jae reports.<br />After becoming the first country in the world to approve the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine,... the U.K. has become the first country to approve the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine.<br />The U.K.'s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has authorized two full doses of the vaccine,... with the second dose to be administered four to twelve weeks after the first.<br />530-thousand doses will be available in the U.K. from next Monday,... and priority will be given to care home residents,... those over 80-years-old and health and care workers.<br />Argentina on Wednesday also approved the AstraZeneca vaccine.<br />Argentina struck a deal with the U.K. drugmaker in November to receive 22 million doses.<br />Germany's top vaccines official expects the European Union to give rapid approval to AstraZeneca's vaccine.<br />While no formal application has been received by the European Medicines Agency,... it is expected to be filed soon.<br />Berlin's support for the U.K. vaccine comes as EU member countries seek to fill supply chains for vaccination campaigns that began last weekend using Pfizer's vaccine.<br />While Germany has so far administered 78-thousand shots,... there have been reports of setbacks with some vaccination centers shutting down temporarily due to a lack of supplies.<br />AstraZeneca's vaccine which was collaborated on with Oxford University is reported to be up to 80-percent effective when given three months apart.<br />The vaccine is also easier to store at regular refrigerator temperature,... and more affordable than other options.<br />South Korea has a deal in place with the U.K. drugmaker to receive enough vaccines for 10 million people.<br />Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.<br />
