AstraZeneca could have COVID-19 vaccine against variant by end-2021 -Austrian newspaper

ZURICH, April 18 (Reuters) - A modified version of
AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine tailored to combat a
coronavirus variant first documented in South Africa could be
ready by the end of 2021, an AstraZeneca official in Austria
said in an interview published on Sunday.

Sarah Walters, AstraZeneca's Austria country manager, told
the Kurier newspaper that studies, so far, indicating the
existing AstraZeneca vaccine was less effective against the more
infectious variant first documented in South Africa were "too
small to draw final conclusions".

"In the meantime, AstraZeneca and Oxford University have
started on modifications to the vaccine for the South African
variant and we expect it will be ready by the end of the year,
should it be needed," Walters told the Kurier.

Walters blamed challenges - including delivery delays for
the AstraZeneca shot in the European Union - on the "complex
process" of producing a vaccine, coupled with the extremely high
demand arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

"We had to work without keeping a supply in reserve. As a
result, we couldn't make up for unexpected events," she said.
"We are confident that we will fulfill our commitment to deliver
300 million doses to the European Union this year."

The Kurier interview did not directly address ongoing
investigations into health concerns over the AstraZeneca shot.
The EU has put a warning label on the vaccine over its possible
linkage to extremely rare blood clots, Denmark has completely
halted use of the vaccine and Britain has advised people under
30 to get another brand of vaccine.

Asked about "thousands" of people in Austria who are
cancelling their appointments for AstraZeneca shots, Walters
said the company's plan was "to continue to transparently
provide information about efficacy and safety to doctors, so
that they can adequately inform people" of benefits and risks.

British and European Union medicine regulators have said
that the overall benefits of using the vaccine outweigh any
risks of rare clotting.
(Reporting by John Miller
Editing by Mark Heinrich)