(Corrects vaccine maker in paragraph 2)
LONDON, Dec 28 (Reuters) - British regulatory approval of a
COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by Oxford University and
AstraZeneca could accelerate the lifting of COVID-19
restrictions, cabinet office minister Michael Gove said on
Monday.
Gove said that the independent regulator had to assess the
vaccine, but if it was approved there would be a "significant
increase" in vaccine available. Britain is already rolling out a
vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.
"If we do get the authorization for that vaccine, and the
rollout goes according to plan, then we will be able to
progressively lift some of the restrictions, which have made
life so difficult for so many," he told Sky News.
(Reporting by Alistair Smout, editing by Louise Heavens)