Article by: Natalie Müller
In a press release published on Saturday afternoon, the British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc announced that they have secured a major deal with Italy, Germany, France and the Netherlands as the supplier, of the sought after, Covid-19 vaccine.
“Company exploring further additional global
capacity to provide broad and equitable access”
According to the statement , deliveries are expected to start at the end of 2020.
The contract is for up to 400 million doses of the vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford, the company said, adding that it was looking to expand manufacturing of the vaccine, which it pledged to provide for no profit during the pandemic.
Bit weird being a patient for a little while @GSTTresearch. Vaccine done today, part of the Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine trial. No idea what I got but🤞the team get the information that helps to make a vaccine for all. #COVID19 #ProtectTheNHS pic.twitter.com/Tni66y7vlZ
— Shona P 💙🏴🖤🖤🧡🐾🐾🐾 (@macshona) June 12, 2020
The statement reads:
“AstraZeneca has reached an agreement with Europe’s Inclusive Vaccines Alliance (IVA), spearheaded by Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, to supply up to 400 million doses of the University of Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine, with deliveries starting by the end of 2020.
With today’s agreement, the IVA aims to accelerate the supply of the vaccine and to make it available to other European countries that wish to participate in the initiative. The IVA is committed to providing equitable access to all participating countries across Europe.
“This agreement will ensure that hundreds of millions of Europeans have access to Oxford University’s vaccine following approval. With our European supply chain due to begin production soon, we hope to make the vaccine available widely and rapidly. I would like to thank the governments of Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands for their commitment and swift response.” – said Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer.
#COVID19
— Qazzafi_official (@qazzafi143) June 12, 2020
7)Oxford university:UK
8)serum Institute of INDIA:INDIA
9)sinovac biotech ltd:CHINA (BRAZIL)
10)China National Biotec Group company:China
(Note:All these groups are close to developing the vaccine and soon the drug can reach people from September to October) pic.twitter.com/69AqALrbW6
The Company has recently completed similar agreements with the UK, US, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Gavi the Vaccine Alliance for 700 million doses, and it agreed a licence with the Serum Institute of India for the supply of an additional one billion doses, principally for low- and middle-income countries. Total manufacturing capacity currently stands at two billion doses.
Oxford University last month announced the start of a Phase II/III UK trial of AZD1222 in about 10,000 adult volunteers. Other late-stage trials are due to begin in a number of countries. AstraZeneca recognises that the vaccine may not work but is committed to progressing the clinical programme with speed and scaling up manufacturing at risk.
AZD1222
ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, now known as AZD1222, was developed by Oxford University’s Jenner Institute, working with the Oxford Vaccine Group. It uses a replication-deficient chimpanzee viral vector based on a weakened version of a common cold (adenovirus) virus that causes infections in chimpanzees and contains the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. After vaccination, the surface spike protein is produced, priming the immune system to attack COVID-19 if it later infects the body.
The recombinant adenovirus vector (ChAdOx1) was chosen to generate a strong immune response from a single dose and it is not replicating, so cannot cause an ongoing infection in the vaccinated individual. Vaccines made from the ChAdOx1 virus have been given to more than 320 people to date and have been shown to be well tolerated, although they can cause temporary side effects such as a temperature, influenza-like symptoms, headache or a sore arm.
DepEd: No vaccine, no face-to-face classes #COVID19 #COVID19Quarantine https://t.co/b976q1OZFz
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) June 8, 2020
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