WHO to scrap interim report as group of scientists press for fresh in inquiry – report; sixteen cases of new UK variant identified so far; Japan to extend Tokyo state of emergency
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- Italy blocks export of 250,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Australia
- German authorities say over-65s should get AstraZeneca jab
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The Australian government on Friday expressed frustration at Italy’s decision to block a shipment of AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine, but stressed it would not affect the rollout of Australia’s inoculation program, Reuters reports.
Italy, supported by the European Commission, blocked the planned export of around 250,000 doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine after the drug manufacturer failed to meet its European Union contract commitments.
“The world is in unchartered territory at present, it’s unsurprising that some countries would tear up the rule book,” Australian Finance Minister Simon Birmingham told Sky News.
“This is a demonstration of really how well Australia continues to do compared to the desperation of other countries.”
Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia had already received 300,000 doses of AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine, which would last until local production of the vaccine ramps up.
“This is one shipment from one country,” Hunt said in an emailed statement. “This shipment was not factored into our distribution plan for coming weeks.”
AstraZeneca did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
China reported 9 new coronavirus cases in the mainland for 4 March, compared with 10 cases a day earlier, the country’s health commission said on Friday.
All of the new infections were imported cases originating from abroad, according to a statement by the National Health Commission.
The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed cases, fell to 12 from 14 cases a day earlier.
The total number of confirmed Covid cases in mainland China now stands at 89,952, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,636.
