The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare granted the approval based on positive efficacy and safety data from the Oxford University-led clinical trial program in the U.K., Brazil, and South Africa, and a phase II trial in Japan. Production of the vaccine in Japan is underway, and the first doses are expected to be available in the coming weeks.

Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency recommends that the use of Vaxzevria should be limited to adults and administered intramuscularly as two 0.5-mL doses given four to 12 weeks apart, with an interval greater than eight weeks being preferable to maximize its efficacy.

AstraZeneca confirms COVID-19 vaccine efficacy again
AstraZeneca has confirmed data on the safety and efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine that were published on March 22 in an initial analysis of clinical trials.

Safety board raises concern over AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine efficacy
Late in the day on March 22, the data safety monitoring board notified the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Biomedical Advanced...

AstraZeneca closer to U.S. regulatory submission with interim results
AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine candidate has demonstrated a vaccine efficacy rate of 79% at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and 100% efficacy at preventing...

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine deemed safe in U.K., EU
The benefits of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine far outweigh the risks, according to the U.K.'s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and...

AstraZeneca reaffirms that its COVID-19 vaccine is safe
AstraZeneca has reaffirmed that its COVID-19 vaccine is safe following concerns that the vaccine increases a person's risk of thrombotic events.