The United Kingdom has begun to Modern Inc. vaccine strengthens UK immunization program Covid-19 on Wednesday amid concerns AstraZeneca Plc’s shot and a dose shortage this month.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the Moderna shot would first be offered in West Wales. This is the third approved vaccine to be offered in the UK, along with shots from AstraZeneca and partners Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, and its rollout is about two weeks earlier than expected.
The UK has ordered 17 million doses of Moderna’s two – shot vaccine, enough for 8.5 million people.
The success of the vaccination program is crucial to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s efforts to fully reopen the British economy on 21 June. On Tuesday, he sought to reassure people about the Astra vaccine amid ongoing concerns in Europe about possible side effects.
It was later revealed that vaccinations of children were developed in a study of the shot by Astra and the University of Oxford was interrupted while the UK regulator investigated rare cases of blood clots in adults. No safety issues arose during the child trial, Oxford said.
“There is still no evidence that there are causal links in the very rare cases that there has been talk of blood clots,” Paul Scully, Minister of Small Business, told Sky News on Wednesday. “The AstraZeneca vaccine is safe; it saved thousands of lives. ”
Visitors enter a Covid-19 vaccination center in London in February.
Photographer: Jason Alden / Bloomberg
‘On course’
The government has insisted it is on track to reach its target of vaccinating all adults by the end of July, despite a reduction in doses in April and a potentially slower pace than expected in the coming months. . “As far as I can see, everything points to staying on target,” Scully said.
Vaccination centers and pharmacies face a NHS England warned of a “significant decline” in supply during April – meaning older people waiting for second doses are preferred over younger people getting their first chance.
The rate of deployment in England is now estimated by Cabinet at an average of 2.7 million doses per week until the end of July – “significantly slower” than a previous forecast of 3.2 million per week, according to a modeling document from scientists in an advisory committee of the government, published on Monday.
According to Jamie Davies, Johnson’s official spokesman, the government “never talked about details regarding supplies and deliveries” of vaccines.
A vial with Modern Covid-19 vaccine.
Photographer: Nathan Laine / Bloomberg
“There will be a slight decline in April, but the most important thing to remember is that it does not mean we are not on track to keep our promises,” Davies told reporters on Tuesday. The UK remains ‘on course’ to offer a first dose to anyone over 50 by April 15, and to all adults by the end of July, he said.
Johnson faces political battle over British Covid passport plan
The rollout of the Moderna shot in the UK is earlier than expected. Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi told the BBC on Tuesday that this would happen “around the third week of April”.
Three out of five adults in the UK have been vaccinated so far, Hancock said on Twitter. The most recent government data shows that more than 31.6 million people received a first dose, and 5.5 million had a second dose.
During a visit to an Astra factory in Macclesfield, Northern England, Johnson encouraged people to listen to the medicine and Health care Products Regulatory Agency, the UK’s drug watchdog.
“Their advice to people is to keep going out there, get a jab, get a second jab,” he said.
– With help by Kitty Donaldson
(Add comments from the Minister on the safety of AstraZeneca vaccine in sixth paragraph.)