Coronavirus: Anthony Fauci says US may not need AstraZeneca vaccine even if it gets regulatory approval

Name: SCMP Explains: What's the difference between the major Covid-19 vaccines?
Uploaded: 2021-04-02T00:55:09.000Z
Duration: 9 min 50 s
Description: SCMP Explains: What's the difference between the major Covid-19 vaccines?

America’s top infectious disease doctor said the US has enough contracts with other vaccine makers to immunise its entire population

In March, more than a dozen countries temporarily suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine over blood clots

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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci. Photo: Getty Images/TNS

Reuters

Published: 8:55am, 2 Apr 2021Updated: 8:54am, 2 Apr 2021

The United States may not need AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine, even if it wins the nation’s regulatory approval, Anthony Fauci, the America’s top infectious disease doctor said on Thursday.

The vaccine, once hailed as another milestone in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, has been dogged by questions since late last year, even as it has been authorised for use by dozens of countries, not including United States.

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical adviser to the White House, said the United States has enough contracts with other vaccine makers to immunise its entire population, and possibly enough for booster shots in the fall.

Asked whether the United States will use the AstraZeneca vaccine doses, he said, “That’s still up in the air. My general feeling is that given the contractual relationships that we have with a number of companies, that we have enough vaccine to fulfil all of our needs without invoking AstraZeneca.”

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SCMP Explains: What's the difference between the major Covid-19 vaccines?

Late last year, the drug maker and Oxford University published data from an earlier trial with two different efficacy readings as a result of a dosing error. Then in March, more than a dozen countries temporarily suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine after reports linked it to a rare blood clotting disorder.