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AstraZeneca Covid jab wins EU approval as booster

AFP . London
23 May 2022 14:53:44 | Update: 23 May 2022 14:56:10
AstraZeneca Covid jab wins EU approval as booster
Vials with a sticker reading, "Covid-19 vaccine and a medical syringe are seen in front of a displayed AstraZeneca logo in this illustration taken October 31, 2020 — Reuters Photo

AstraZeneca's Covid jab has won approval for use as a booster or third jab in the European Union, the British drugs giant confirmed Monday.

The European Medicines Agency, the EU's drugs watchdog, had revealed the news on Thursday.

"AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria, has been granted approval in the EU by the EMA as a third dose booster in adults," the company said in a statement.

"Healthcare professionals can now use Vaxzevria as a third dose booster in patients previously given a primary vaccine schedule of either Vaxzevria or an EU-approved mRNA Covid-19 vaccine."

The EMA had concluded there was a "substantial body of evidence demonstrating an increased immune response after a third dose booster with Vaxzevria", it added.

AstraZeneca rapidly developed its successful Covid-19 jab alongside the University of Oxford during the pandemic.

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The group announced last month that Vaxzevria sales jumped fourfold to $1.15 billion in the first quarter, despite a 40-per cent decline in Europe where the pandemic has been curbed by vaccinations.

But AstraZeneca also cautioned in April that Covid revenues including Vaxzevria would drop this year as the health crisis recedes.

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