UK ordered April vaccination periods end because India stopped exporting AstraZeneca doses

The United Kingdom will face in April a about four weeks late in delivering five million doses of the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine made in India, reported this Thursday the BBC.

The public channel stressed that the Serum Institute from India has temporarily stopped the export of these doses, having already delivered another batch of five million, which means that Britain’s vaccination schedule will be temporarily slowed down from March 29.

A spokesperson for the Indian Institute, the world’s largest vaccine producer, explained to the BBC that “Five million doses have already been delivered to the UK a few weeks ago”.

“We will try to provide more later, based on the current situation and the requirements of the national immunization program in India.”said the source, who did not specify a date.

According to the BBC, apart from these preparations produced in India, the rest of the doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine under contract with the United Kingdom are produced in this country and there are no supply problems.

On the other hand, Pfizer, which produces its vaccine in Belgium, has so far delivered all planned shipments to London, which could however be changed if the European Union finally decides to restrict exports.

The United Kingdom is also awaiting the arrival at the end of the European spring of doses of the American Modern, the third vaccine approved by UK regulators.

The London government confirmed on Wednesday that it expects a “Significant reduction” in the supply of vaccines against the coronavirus as of March 29, after a paper sent by the heads of the health system of England (NHS England) to various vaccination centers.

The document warns that the reason for the decrease, which can last around four weeks, is due to “Reductions in incoming national supply”, attributed this Thursday to India.

In the letter, vaccination centers are invited to do not assign new appointments to inoculate doses between April 1 and April 30, which implies that the vaccination of priority groups will be concluded and that of those under 50 will be delayed.

During a press conference, the Minister of Health, Matt hancock, who appears before Parliament on Thursday, assured that despite everything, targets are maintained and the entire UK adult population will be vaccinated by the end of July.

According to the latest official figures, 25.27 million people have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the UK and 1.75 million have already been inoculated with both doses.

(With information from EFE)

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