Last checked at 
(Adds details, quotes)
GENEVA/ZURICH, March 22 (Reuters) - More producers of
COVID-19 vaccines should follow the example of AstraZeneca
and license their technology to other manufacturers, the
head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday, as
he described vaccine inequity as "grotesque".
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that
the drugmaker said earlier that interim data from trials found
the vaccine, developed in conjunction with Oxford University,
was 79% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and,
crucially, posed no increased risk of blood clots.
"This data is further evidence that the AstraZeneca vaccine
is safe and effective," Tedros told a news conference. WHO chief
scientist Soumya Swaminathan called it a "very good vaccine for
all age groups".
WHO officials said that there was no sign of falling demand
for the AstraZeneca shot through its COVAX vaccine-sharing
programme after some countries temporarily paused its use over
health concerns.
"They did ask a lot of questions but the demand for the
vaccine is extremely high," said WHO senior adviser Bruce
Aylward. He added, however, that COVAX was having some "teething
problems" since manufacturers might not be able to keep up with
their roll-out programme.
The Geneva-based body urged vigilance as case numbers rise
in several regions, including Europe, driven partly by virus
variants that transmit more easily.
"Many countries are coming out of restrictive measures
without good surveillance, without good vaccine coverage and a
huge amount of fatigue at play," said WHO emergencies chief Mike
Ryan, calling that "a recipe for larger outbreaks".
(Reporting by John Miller, Emma Farge and Silke Koltrowitz;
writing by Stephanie Nebehay)
