CANBERRA: Australia’s regulator on Tuesday approved the AstraZeneca vaccine as its second for use against COVID-19.
Pfizer’s product will be available in Australia next week. It will be given in two doses three weeks apart, while AstraZeneca’s will be administered in two doses 12 weeks apart.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the regulator, found the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe and effective.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the AstraZeneca vaccine will prevent serious COVID-19 illness.
Morrison will be vaccinated with the Pfizer product and Hunt with AstraZeneca in a demonstration of confidence in both vaccines.
Australia has contracted 53.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and 50 million of those will be manufactured in Australia.
The government has also secured 20 million Pfizer vaccines for a population of 26 million.
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Australia approves AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for use
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Australia approves AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for use
- Australian regulator found the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe and effective
- Government contracted 53.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine
EU announces 63 million euros in humanitarian funding for Somalia
- The EU said its funding would prioritize life-saving health and nutrition services
BRUSSELS: The European Union will provide some 63 million euros ($74.39 million) in humanitarian funding for Somalia, it said on Thursday. The country has been hit by fighting between Somali armed forces and Al-Shabab militants, as well as by droughts.
The EU said its funding would prioritize life-saving health and nutrition services.
This latest aid package would mean it had provided more than 750 million euros in humanitarian aid to Somalia since 2017, added the EU.
The United Nations World Food Programme said earlier in February that its life-saving food and nutrition assistance in Somalia could end by April unless new funding was secured.
The EU did not specify when this aid would be provided.
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