29th Jan 2021 05:55
(Alliance News) - A fourth Covid-19 vaccine could be approved for use in the UK within weeks as late-stage trials suggested it was 89% effective in preventing coronavirus.
The UK has secured 60 million doses of the Novavax jab – to be produced on Teesside – which is believed to offer protection against the new UK and South African variants.
It was shown to be 89% effective at preventing coronavirus in participants in its phase 3 clinical trial in the UK, which involved more than 15,000 people aged between 18-84, of which 27% were older than 65, Novavax said.
The vaccine will now be assessed by the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed, as he thanked volunteers who made the results possible.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the NHS stands ready to roll out the vaccine if it is approved, which he said would provide a "significant boost to our vaccination programme and another weapon in our arsenal to beat this awful virus".
The chair of the government's Vaccine Taskforce, Clive Dix, said the results were "spectacular", adding: "The efficacy shown against the emerging variants is also extremely encouraging.
"This is an incredible achievement that will ensure we can protect individuals in the UK and the rest of the world from this virus."
The jab has shown around 60% effectiveness against the South African variant, which has been worrying scientists due to concerns vaccines may not work against it, but it offered 86% protection against the new UK strain.
Two vaccines have already been rolled out in the UK – from Pfizer Inc and Oxford/AstraZeneca PLC – while a third from Moderna Inc has been approved for use.
The Novavax jab would be delivered in the second half of 2021 if it receives the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency approval.
By Harriet Line
source: PA
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