AstraZeneca says to release 2 million vaccine doses a week to UK by mid-February

AstraZeneca is scaling up releases of COVID-19 vaccine doses to the United Kingdom to the point where it expects to be providing 2 million a week by or before the middle of February, a top executive told lawmakers on Wednesday.

6:58AM EST

UK minister favours vaccinating teachers, police ahead of second dose deployment

Britain’s minister in charge of COVID-19 vaccinations said once everyone in the top priority groups had been reached, he favoured moving onto groups such as teachers and the police rather than bringing forward second doses.

7:03AM EST

Waiting for spring? Europe extends, tightens lockdown

Governments across Europe announced tighter and longer coronavirus lockdowns on Wednesday over fears about a fast-spreading variant first detected in Britain, with vaccinations not expected to help much for another two to three months.

7:32AM EST

COVID vaccine deliveries to UK are on track, enough to meet target, minister says

Deliveries of COVID vaccines to Britain are on track and sufficient to meet the government’s vaccination targets, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Wednesday although he declined to give figures on supplies.

3:38AM EST

Data on AstraZeneca vaccine and South African variant should come soon, UK expert says

Data on the highly contagious COVID-19 variant identified in England do not suggest that vaccines will be less effective against it, while data on the South African variant should be available within weeks, a top British vaccines expert said.

6:02AM EST

EasyJet cabin crew to help with UK vaccination programme

British airline easyJet said the National Health Service (NHS) would train hundreds of its cabin crew to administer COVID-19 vaccines under a fast-track scheme designed to help boost the country’s vaccination efforts.

5:26AM EST

Don’t tout investment services to EU clients, watchdog warns banks in Britain

Some UK-based banks are dodging a ban on offering investment services to EU-based customers by using advertising, the bloc’s regulator said on Wednesday, warning of possible legal action over such “questionable” practices.

7:35AM EST

UK supermarkets want ‘urgent intervention’ to ensure supplies to Northern Ireland

Britain’s major supermarkets have warned the government that “urgent intervention” is needed to prevent significant disruption to Northern Ireland food supplies in the coming months.

6:29AM EST

Honda to temporarily halt UK car output due to COVID-related supply issues

Japanese carmaker Honda said it would halt output at its British factory from Monday to Thursday next week due to COVID-19 related global supply chain issues, the latest production suspension in recent weeks.