A US government agency on Tuesday raised concerns that AstraZeneca may have used outdated drug data information provided during US trials for its COVID-19 vaccine, reported AFP.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in a statement said that a monitoring board had “expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data.”

It said, “We urge the company to work with the DSMB (Data and Safety Monitoring Board) to review the efficacy data and ensure the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible.”

The statement comes after AstraZeneca said on Monday that stage three US trials had showed its COVID-19 vaccine was 79% effective at preventing the disease.

The firm said that it was preparing to submit its findings to the US Food and Drug Administration to authorize the shot for emergency use.

Although AstraZeneca vaccine is cheaper and easier to store than many of its rivals, several countries in Europe and other parts of the world last week suspended its use because of isolated cases of blood clots.