U.K. Becomes First Country to Authorizebr Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine.br On Wednesday, the United Kingdom gave emergencybr authorization to the COVID-19 vaccine developed by thebr University of Oxford and AstraZeneca. .br They are the first country to do so, although muchbr of the world is expected to follow suit. .br At three to four dollars a dose, the Oxford-AstraZenecabr vaccine is cheaper than other vaccines. .br It is also much easier to store, as thebr Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be kept at br temperatures between -112°F and -76°F.br The British government has also decided tobr give a first vaccine dose to as many people as possible,br rather than holding supplies for quick second shots. .br They hope that expanding the initial number ofbr inoculations and lengthening the gap betweenbr doses will curb the pandemic more quickly.br British regulators said that during the clinical trialbr of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, the first dose br provided partial protection against COVID-19. .br It was found to have 70 percent efficiencybr against COVID-19 in the several monthsbr between the first and second shot. .br This is very good news for the world — br it makes a global approach to a global br pandemic much easier … , Professor Stephen Evans, London School of Hygiene br and Tropical Medicine, via ‘The New York Times’.br ...