Britain approves Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as cases surge

London, January 1 (RHC)-- Britain has granted emergency authorization for the Oxford and AstraZeneca vaccine.  The vaccine costs significantly less than the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech ones and does not require storage in ultra-cold freezers.  Some trials showed it had a lower efficacy rate. 

Meanwhile, China’s Sinopharm says its coronavirus vaccine is 79% effective, and is seeking approval from regulators, although some 1 million or more people reportedly already received a Sinopharm vaccine as part of an emergency use program.

Germany reported its highest daily death toll at over 1,100 deaths.  South Korea also reported its own new record of 40 deaths in one day.