AstraZeneca’s star rose and fell as vaccine rolled out

AstraZeneca was not the only vaccine-maker beset by problems, but this was on a large scale. Photo: AP/Hau Dinh

In the depths of the pandemic last year, scientists worked at breakneck pace to develop vaccines that saw the light far sooner than would usually be expected. Among the dozens of vaccines being tested was one developed by the University of Oxford and the British/Swedish multinational AstraZeneca.

This was watched closely in Ireland, not only because Irish scientists played a central role. The so-called “game changer” vaccine would be sold on a not-for-profit basis and did not require ultra-low refrigeration systems.