British regulators asked to assess AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, as new trial looks into lower dosage

The British Government has formally asked its medicines regulator to assess whether a coronavirus vaccine developed by drug company AstraZeneca and Oxford University should be authorised for use.

It comes as AstraZeneca said it plans to conduct a new global clinical trial to assess the vaccine’s efficacy.

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he had asked the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to determine whether the vaccine “meets rigorous safety standards.”

Here’s the latest on the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine.

How effective is it?

Earlier this week, Oxford and AstraZeneca reported their vaccine appeared to be 62 per cent effective in people who received two doses, and 90 per cent effective when volunteers were given a half…