(AFP Photo)GENEVA: AstraZeneca on Saturday announced a fresh shortfall in planned vaccine shipments to the European Union, dealing another blow to the bloc's efforts to step up vaccinations. AstraZeneca started delivery of the vaccine to the EU in February, and still aims to deliver 100 million doses in the first half of 2021. AstraZeneca had initially agreed to supply three times as many doses in the first quarter, and 180 million doses in second quarter alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 100 million vaccine doses have been administered in the US, around 30 percent of the world's total of shots given so far. "Yes, we should continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine," WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said Friday, stressing that any concerns over safety must be investigated.

Source: Bangkok Post March 13, 2021 11:48 UTC