[ad_1]
The Government has agreed to indemnify five pharmaceutical companies that produce Covid-19 vaccines against any liability arising from complications with their implementation in the coming months.
The measure is considered standard practice, but it is also a precondition for accessing the doses of each of the companies’ vaccines and signals the government’s confidence that the jabs are approved for quality, safety and efficacy by the European Agency of Medicines (EMA) in the coming weeks. .
As preparations for the vaccine launch intensify, the government was unable to say last night what the potential cost to taxpayers of such an endeavor could be.
UK Licensed Vaccine
This morning, it was announced that the UK has become the first Western country to license a Covid vaccine, paving the way for mass immunization with the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine starting next week for those most at risk.
The vaccine will launch in Northern Ireland ahead of schedule. Northern Ireland Prime Minister Arlene Foster said approval of the vaccine is an anticipated “Christmas present”.
“This gives us the way back to normalcy and I think everyone has been waiting for that,” he said.
“I am incredibly proud today that the UK was able to do this and that we will all benefit from the arrival of this vaccine.”
Ms. Foster said launching the vaccine would be a “great challenge.”
Dose
Meanwhile, yesterday the Cabinet signed the purchase of 875,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine. It is the fifth Advance Purchase Agreement (APA) that the Government has entered into with pharmaceutical companies, since agreements have already been secured with AstraZeneca, Janssen, BioNTech / Pfizer and CureVac.
A spokesperson said it was proof that the Coalition made sure it was “fully prepared” for the vaccine launch, adding that it has “every confidence” that the EMA will approve the potentially life-saving injections.
The Cabinet yesterday approved the purchase of 875,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine. It is the fifth Advance Purchase Agreement (APA) that the Government has entered into with pharmaceutical companies, since agreements have already been secured with AstraZeneca, Janssen, BioNTech / Pfizer and CureVac.
“The practice of indemnifying pharmaceutical companies for Covid-19 vaccines is standard practice globally and has been adopted for each candidate,” the spokesperson said.
“The Attorney General has not considered the cost of compensation; It is a matter of the State Claims Agency and is protected by commercial confidentiality ”, they added.
The Health Department said the severance agreements are part of the APAs negotiated at the EU level and that while members can choose to enter or exit these agreements, they cannot change their provisions.
“The relevant clauses address the risk to the vaccine supplier regarding the manufacture of a pandemic vaccine. Opting for these provisions is one of the preconditions for gaining access to vaccines, ”said a spokesperson.
“Covid-19 vaccines can only be approved and used if they meet all the quality, safety and efficacy requirements set out in the EU pharmaceutical legislation.
“No vaccine will be used until marketing authorization is obtained from the European Medicines Agency and any licensed vaccine will be subject to continuous monitoring by the Health Products Regulatory Authority.”
It comes as the Taoiseach told the Dáil yesterday that the Defense Forces could be involved in the huge logistical challenge of rolling out the vaccine across the country next year.
A national vaccination strategy against Covid-19 and an implementation plan will be ready to be considered by the government within nine days, Micheál Martin told TDs.
The chairman of the new High Level Working Group (HLTF) on the subject, Professor Brian MacCraith, had assured him that the plan will be ready by December 11.
But he was told that a vaccination minister should sit in the cabinet to ensure the orderly deployment of Covid protection for all citizens.
Labor Party leader Alan Kelly said he was seriously concerned about the coordination of the protective coup program in 2021.
“The reality is that someone must be in charge of launching the vaccine. Someone must be in charge of the rules by which each and every agency and organization operates. “
The Taoiseach said the government was “absolutely and fully committed to the timely implementation of the Covid-19 immunization program once the vaccines are approved for use.”
He said the HLTF had identified complex logistical challenges, including storage and transportation requirements, “and it is clear that the implementation of the vaccine will require very careful and detailed planning by the entire government.”
He added: “We also have some support from the Defense Forces from a logistical perspective.”
It occurs when 269 new cases of the virus and 18 deaths were announced yesterday. The daily toll is in line with the five-day average of around 277, but still above the post-closing target of 50-100.
The number of patients in the hospital dropped slightly to 224 from 244 on Monday, but those in intensive care were unchanged at 31.
Meanwhile, new CSO figures showed that one in five people admit that it is “very unlikely” or “unlikely” that they will comply with Covid-19 restrictions that would prevent them from seeing family and friends over Christmas.
The report on the social impact of the virus revealed that more than one in two say that people traveling to Ireland from areas of Europe with high levels of Covid-19 should stay away.
Two in 10 believe that passengers from the orange regions of Europe should not be able to enter the country. In addition, one in 10 says that passengers coming from green regions should not be allowed to enter.
Irish independent
[ad_2]