Covid-19 Digest: AstraZeneca Vaccine Trial on Children Halted

South Korea's food and drug safety ministry has approved the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, saying the single-dose shot is safe and effective. It is the third Covid-19 vaccine to be granted authorization, following the BioNTech-Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines.

Australia called on the EU to ship out millions of vaccine doses pre-ordered by the Canberra government. Last month, the EU blocked a shipment of some 250,000 doses to Australia on Italy's request. On Tuesday, however, Brussels denied it was blocking over 3 million more doses that were originally set to be exported to Australia.

Also read: Indonesia Buys 100 Million Covid-19 Vaccines from AstraZeneca

"We obviously want those millions of doses," Australian PM Scott Morrison told reporters. "Given statements made overnight, that apparently there is no obstruction to that and then I would hope that could be readily addressed."

Europe

Italy's government wants to let fans into stadiums for the European Championship football tournament.

Italy's health minister Roberto Speranza told the country's football federation that spectators can attend the football matches at Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Speranza said that this decision was based on protocols from advisors.

The decision to allow spectators in stadiums comes as Italy gears up to restart tourism to the country this summer.

(AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)