World News

UPDATED: Reports EU preparing legal case against AstraZeneca over vaccine shortfalls

The European Commission is working on legal proceedings against AstraZeneca after the drugmaker cut COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to the European Union, sources familiar with the matter said. The move would…

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Experts say comparing AstraZeneca vaccine blood-clot risk to odds of dying in a car crash unhelpful

Trying to downplay the risk of severe but rare clotting that appears to be associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine by comparing it with the clotting risk from taking the contraceptive…

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Sri Lanka reports six cases of blood clots among AstraZeneca vaccine recipients, 3 dead

Sri Lanka has found six cases of blood clots among recipients of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, three of whom have died, Health Minister Pavithra Waniarachchi told parliament on Wednesday. Nearly…

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‘I don’t want that’ – France struggles to pitch AstraZeneca vaccine

Tasked with persuading shoppers at an outdoor market to consider taking the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Paris city hall employee Leo Martin was finding it a tough sell. "Which vaccine is…

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Philippines lifts suspension on AstraZeneca vaccine for under 60s

The Philippines will resume administering AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to people below 60 years of age, health officials said on Monday, ending a temporary suspension over reports of rare blood clots…

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Canada’s Ontario to expand use of AstraZeneca COVID vaccine as epidemic rages

The Canadian province of Ontario will begin offering AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday to people turning 40 or older this year, according to a government source. The change will broaden…

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EU hints it might not order AstraZeneca jab again

Thierry Breton, the EU's internal markets commissioner, said Sunday that "nothing is decided" concerning the bloc's plans to open any further contracts with AstraZeneca. "We're pragmatic. My priority, as far…

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AstraZeneca could have COVID-19 vaccine against variant by end-2021

ZURICH, April 18 (Reuters) - A modified version of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine tailored to combat a coronavirus variant first documented in South Africa could be ready by the end of…

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Canada has second case of rare blood clots after AstraZeneca vaccine

Canada reported a second case of rare blood clots with low platelets after immunization with AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine in a week, while it said it still recommended the use of…

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Norway’s Institute of Public Health (FHI) recommends ending the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine

OSLO, April 15 (Reuters) - Norway will take more time to assess whether to resume the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 or stop it altogether, health minister Bent…

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Italy reported four clot deaths after AstraZeneca shots, data shows

ROME, April 15 (Reuters) - Four people died in Italy from rare blood clots after they received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, a report from the AIFA national pharmaceutical agency said…

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Germany’s Merkel to have AstraZeneca jab on Friday

Berlin (dpa) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel will receive her first anti-coronavirus vaccination on Friday, German newspaper Welt reported on Thursday. Merkel would receive the AstraZeneca injection, the newspaper reported without naming a…

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UK scientists find higher risk of brain clots from COVID-19 compared with vaccines

There is a much higher risk of brain blood clots from COVID-19 infection than there is from vaccines against the disease, British researchers said on Thursday, after the rollout of…

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Cyprus’s cabinet all receive AstraZeneca shots to win over public confidence

Cyprus’s entire cabinet was inoculated with the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 on Thursday in an attempt to win over a cautious public on the safety of the shots. Some countries…

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WHO says Denmark looking to share AstraZeneca vaccines after halting shots

The World Health Organization Europe head, Hans Kluge, said on Thursday that Denmark is examining options for sharing AstraZeneca's vaccines with poorer nations, after itself halting use of the shots…

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Europe’s vaccine rollout hit by doubts over J&J, AstraZeneca shots

COPENHAGEN/ROME, April 14 (Reuters) - Europe's choppy vaccine rollout hit more trouble on Wednesday after U.S. drugmaker Johnson & Johnson delayed its COVID-19 shot and Denmark said it would drop…

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UPDATED: Denmark to permanently discontinue use of AstraZeneca vaccine

Denmark on Wednesday will become the first country to entirely cease administering AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine following its possible link to very rare cases of blood clots, several Danish media outlets…

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UK study to investigate whether vaccines can be mixed

A study looking at whether the Oxford/Astrazeneca and Pfizer coronavirus vaccines can be safely mixed for the first and second doses will be expanded to include two additional jabs. Researchers…

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Germany to give different second jab to AstraZeneca recipients under 60

People aged under 60 who have been given a first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in Germany will receive a different jab for their second dose, federal and regional…

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UPDATED: EU Commission to end AstraZeneca and J&J vaccine contracts at expiry

The EU Commission has decided not to renew COVID-19 vaccine contracts next year with AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson (J&J), Italian daily La Stampa reported on Wednesday, citing a source…

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AstraZeneca says diabetes drug Farxiga fails in COVID-19 study

ata from a late-stage study to test if AstraZeneca's diabetes drug Farxiga could treat patients hospitalised with COVID-19 and at risk of developing serious complications fell short of its main…

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EU seeks clarification from AstraZeneca on supply shortfalls

The European Commission said on Monday it was seeking clarification from AstraZeneca over its shortfalls in supplies to the European Union, after it sent a letter to the company in…

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AstraZeneca says it had positive meeting with EU over vaccine row

MILAN, April 11 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca had a positive meeting with the European Commission last week, the Anglo-Swedish company said after an Italian newspaper said the group had not replied…

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Why do the age recommendations keep changing? – AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine FAQ answered

The Conversation - Many people have questions about the changing guidelines for the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine. Here are some answers from infectious disease specialist Dr. Alexander Wong. ChADOx1…

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S.Korea to resume wider use of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, exclude people under 30

SEOUL, April 11 (Reuters) - South Korean authorities said on Sunday they will move ahead with a coronavirus vaccination drive this week, after deciding to continue using AstraZeneca PLC's vaccine…

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How worried should we be about links of blood clots to AstraZeneca’s vaccine?

Europe's drug regulator on Wednesday said it had found a possible link between AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine and very rare blood clots in adults who received the shot. Britain recommended people…

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48 new cases of coronavirus – Malta News Briefing – Friday 9 April 2021

Latest Update- News Portal Briefing Times of Malta reports that tourists booking summer holidays to Malta directly through local hotels will receive a financial handout. MaltaToday reports that Repubblika alleged…

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Hong Kong govt to delay imports of AstraZeneca vaccine amid safety concerns

Hong Kong said on Friday it will delay shipments of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine this year amid mounting concerns over possible links between the shot and very rare cases of blood…

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France still in favour of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

The French health regulator should say later on Friday that Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, like those developed by Pfizer and BioNTech , should be used as a second dose for people…

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Australia doubles Pfizer vaccine order as AstraZeneca clotting worries upend rollout

Australia has doubled its order of the Pfizer Inc COVID-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday, as the country raced to overhaul its inoculation plan over concerns about…

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Britain reassures on AstraZeneca after advising under-30s take other vaccines

British officials and ministers sought to shore up confidence in AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, saying advice that most people under 30 should be offered alternative shots was not unusual…

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UPDATED: France recommends second mRNA COVID-19 dose for under-55s who got first dose with AstraZeneca

France's top health body said recipients of a first dose of AstraZeneca's traditional COVID-19 vaccine who are under 55 should get a second shot with a new-style messenger-RNA (mRNA) vaccine,…

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Australia’s most populous state suspends AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine

Australia's most populous state said on Friday it has temporarily suspended the use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine following updated advice from the federal government. New South Wales said inoculations using…

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Sweden to assess EU findings on AstraZeneca shot

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Sweden's Health Agency said on Thursday it would assess over the coming days the EU regulator's findings linking the AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot to rare blood clots and was…

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African Union drops AstraZeneca vaccine, which COVAX will supply

NAIROBI, April 8 (Reuters) - The African Union's disease control body said on Thursday it had dropped plans to secure AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for its members from the Serum Institute…

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Malta Medicines Authority recommends no changes in use of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine

The Malta Medicines Authority has reaffirmed that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the risk of side effects, while encouraging vaccinated people and healthcare professions to be aware of…

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FACTBOX – Some countries limit AstraZeneca vaccine use after possible link to blood clots

April 8 (Reuters) - Some countries are restricting use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to certain age groups or suspending use after European and British regulators confirmed possible links to…

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Mexico, Brazil will not limit AstraZeneca vaccine

Mexican and Brazilian health regulators said on Wednesday they would not limit the use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 shot after Britain's vaccine advisory committee recommended not using it for people under…

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Benefits of AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh risks: Swedish Medical Products Agency

The Swedish Medical Products Agency said the benefits of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine outweighed the risks after the EU drug regulator said it had found a possible link between the…

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Philippines suspends use of AstraZeneca vaccine for people under 60

Philippine health authorities suspended on Thursday the use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for people below 60 years of age to investigate reports of blood clots coming from overseas. The temporary…

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Germany regulator sticks to age limit for AstraZeneca COVID shot

Germany's vaccine regulator said on Thursday it would stick to its guidance to limit the use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to those aged over 60. The European Union's drug regulator…

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German vaccine experts say no risks in vaccine switch after first Astra dose

Germany’s vaccine advisory committee sees no disadvantages or risks from giving younger recipients of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine a second dose of an alternative shot, two of its members said on…

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European countries may have to mix COVID-19 shots amid AstraZeneca crisis

Several European countries are considering mixing up COVID-19 vaccines for citizens who received a first dose of AstraZeneca’s shot, an unprecedented move that highlights challenges for governments struggling to tame…

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Australia to continue AstraZeneca vaccine

Australia has no current plans to change the rollout of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday, after Europe's drug regulator found possible links between rare…

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Italy, Britain suggest age limits for AstraZeneca vaccine but still recommend it

Italy recommended that AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 shot only be used on those over 60 and Britain that people under 30 should get an alternative, due to possible links between the vaccine…

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EU regulator finds possible link between AstraZeneca vaccine and rare blood clots – UPDATE

BRUSSELS, April 7 (Reuters) - The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Wednesday it had found a possible link between AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine and reports of very rare cases of…

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Causal link between AstraZeneca shot and clots “plausible but not confirmed” – WHO

GENEVA, April 7 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization's advisory vaccine safety panel said on Wednesday a causal link between the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and rare cases of blood clots…

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Britain recommends not using Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for under-30s – UPDATE

Britain should not give Oxford University/AstraZeneca's vaccine to under 30s where possible, Britain's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said on Wednesday, due to a very rare side effect…

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Spain’s Castile and Leon region suspends AstraZeneca shots

A regional Spanish health authority said on Wednesday it had suspended AstraZeneca COVID-19 shots pending a European Medicines Agency (EMA) safety report, though the national government said it would continue…

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Trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine on children in the UK paused

Sky News reports that a trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine on children in the UK has been paused while the medicines regulator investigates a possible link between the jab…

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EMA official sees clear ‘association’ between AstraZeneca vaccine and rare blood clots in brain – UPDATE

A senior official at Europe's medicines regulator has said there is a clear "association" between AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine and very rare blood clots in the brain, though the direct cause…

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WHO says AstraZeneca benefits outweigh risks; assessing latest data

The World Health Organization expects there will be no reason to change its assessment that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 outweigh any risks, a regulatory official told…

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EU denies blocking 3.1 million AstraZeneca shots to Australia

The European Union on Tuesday denied blocking shipments of 3.1 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to Australia, as the bloc steps up scrutiny of vaccine exports to address shortages.…

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UK health regulator may restrict AstraZeneca shot for younger people, Channel 4 says

Britain's health regulator is considering a proposal to restrict the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in younger people over concerns about very rare blood clots, Channel 4 News reported on…

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U.S. puts J&J in charge of plant that botched COVID vaccine, removes AstraZeneca

The United States has put Johnson and Johnson in charge of a plant that ruined 15 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine and has stopped British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc from…

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Update – Australia to continue AstraZeneca vaccination despite blood clotting case

Australia will continue its inoculation programme with AstraZeneca PLC, health officials said on Saturday, after a blood clotting case raised concern about the safety of the vaccine. A 44-year-old man…

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Opinion – AstraZeneca could use a shot of under-promising

Pascal Soriot must be wondering what he has done to deserve it. Having developed a cheap and effective Covid-19 vaccine in super-quick time and offered to the world at cost,…

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