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December 30, 2020

U.K. Approves Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as Cases Surge; Germany, South Korea Report Record Deaths
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In international news, Britain has granted emergency authorization for
the Oxford and Astra Zeneca vaccine. The vaccine costs significantly
less than the Moderna and Pfizer-Bio NTech ones and does not require
storage in ultra-cold freezers. Some trials showed it had a lower
efficacy rate. The U.K. registered a record 53,000 new cases Tuesday.

Meanwhile, China's Sinopharm says its coronavirus vaccine is 79%
effective, and is seeking approval from regulators, although some 1
million or more people reportedly already received a Sinopharm vaccine
as part of an emergency use program.

Germany reported its highest daily death toll at over 1,100 deaths.
South Korea also reported its own new record of 40 deaths.


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