COVID-19: UK approves use of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine and orders 10m more doses

[Invicta]

The Moderna vaccine has become the third coronavirus jab to be approved for use in the UK - with an additional 10 million doses ordered.

The US-based company's vaccine was shown to have 94% efficacy against COVID-19 in final trials.

Seven million doses had already been ordered by the UK government with a further 10 million expected to follow - but it will likely not become available until March.

This is because it is being manufactured in the US at first, and will take a few months before manufacturing facilities in Europe will be ready to distribute.

News about the jab, which will be available for free, was welcomed by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Analysis: Moderna jab approval is a big boost - but it will not have an immediate impact
Analysis: Moderna jab approval is a big boost - but it will not have an immediate impact
He called it "another weapon in our arsenal to tame this awful disease", and added it will "boost our vaccination programme even further once doses become available from the spring".

But Mr Hancock reminded people: "While we immunise those most at risk from COVID, I urge everyone to continue following the rules to keep cases low to protect our loved ones."

The Moderna vaccine was taken by US vice president-elect Kamala Harris at the end of December on live television to prove its safety.

Kamala Harris receives coronavirus vaccine
Image:
Kamala Harris received the coronavirus vaccine on live TV at the end of December
When the vaccines arrive in Britain, they will "help to ease any bottlenecks or delays in the administration programme", according to Dr Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton.

He added the jabs' early usage in the US and other countries "have been successful with no significant issues raised in terms of safety".

The UK government said it wants 15 million people vaccinated by mid-February
The UK was the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and has since also begun rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab.

On Thursday, PM Boris Johnson said 1.26 million jabs had been given in England, 113,000 in Scotland, 49,000 in Wales, and 46,000 in Northern Ireland.

The government has set a target to deliver first doses to 15 million of the most vulnerable by 15 February.

Margaret Keenan, 90, is applauded by staff as she returns to her ward after becoming the first person in the United Kingdom to receive the Pfizer/BioNtech covid-19 vaccine at University Hospital, Coventry, at the start of the largest ever immunisation programme in the UK's history.
Image:
Margaret Keenan, 90, received the Pfizer/BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine at University Hospital, Coventry
The Moderna vaccine is much easier to distribute than the Pfizer jab, which must be stored at about -70C to maintain optimal efficacy.

It has been shown to last for up to 30 days in household fridges, at room temperature for up to 12 hours, and remains stable at -20C - equal to most household or medical freezers - for up to six months.

COVID-19: UK approves use of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine and orders 10 million more doses

Matt Hancock calls it "another weapon in our arsenal to tame this awful disease" - though doses will not be available until March.

news.sky.com

 

[Ali_Baba]

What ever you think of Bojo, he has been very effective in rolling the dice, and building up an inventory of vaccines for the UK faster than most countries. There is a risk/reward of ordering them early against them not being approved or not being effective, but the cost of not rolling that dice interms of lives lost before their time, and the economic damage of the lockdowns means we have to do a bit of 'who dares wins..'.

Nice one Bojo.

 

[Invicta]

What ever you think of Bojo, he has been very effective in rolling the dice, and building up an inventory of vaccines for the UK faster than most countries. There is a risk/reward of ordering them early against them not being approved or not being effective, but the cost of not rolling that dice interms of lives lost before their time, and the economic damage of the lockdowns means we have to do a bit of 'who dares wins..'.

Nice one Bojo.

I think most people are very supportive of the fact that there has been no precedent in UK history of dealing with a pandemic in terms of Act of parliaments and governmental framework to guide a sitting government on dealing with such scenarios. Now if you were to listen to the media that is not the case, the media by and large is copying the American style of "Us Vs Them" coverage, it has backfired among the masses. The opposition on the other hand has lamented the government for ordering too much PPE. Same opposition would be complaining if we were to run out of PPE.

I never paid much attention to him but I am liking him more and more as his time as PM goes on.
I read a bit about him and his background and it was striking to learn that he was written off as a Mayoral candidate, he proved the doubter wrong by winning it, and then as a MP as well he has always been underrated.

They are right when they say looks can be deceiving after all combing ones hair does require a reasonable sense of coordination, if you were to believe popular opinion he is anything but reasonable.