The United Kingdom has approved a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and drug maker AstraZeneca.  The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recommended approval on Tuesday (Hawaii time).  The MHRA said the vaccine vaccine has met its strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.

Oxford University/AstraZeneca began trialing the vaccine in volunteers in April, and has been completing the Phase 3 clinical trials.

The MHRA and UK government previously approved the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer/BioNTech.  According to the BBC, more than 600,000 people in Great Britain have already been vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.  The report also says the UK has ordered enough of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine to innoculate 50 million people.

This vaccine, like both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines (both having Emergency Use Authorizations in the U.S.), requires two shots, this one 28 days apart.  A report in The Lancet indicated that after the second dose, the vaccine was 70.4% effective, an average of all age groups, with some showing up to 90% efficacy.

The Oxford/AstraZeneca team had a goal of making a low-price, easy-stored vaccine that could be distributed worldwide, including to developing countries.  The vaccine can be kept in a normal refrigerator and doesn’t require the super-cold shipping temperatures of  at least-70 degrees F, as do both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.  The Moderna vaccine, once it thaws, can be kept at refrigerator temperature for up to a month.

For more, see the AstraZeneca press release — click here.