Donnelly says the UK and the EU ‘only a few weeks apart’ on vaccine approval

HEALTH MINISTER STEPHEN Donnelly has said the UK and the EU have only “a few weeks apart” to approve the vaccines.

The UK announced today that it formally approved a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Germany’s BioNTech and US giant Pfizer, becoming the first country to do so.

The vaccine has been licensed by the UK Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) for emergency use.

The Guardian reports that the UK has purchased 40 million doses of the vaccine, with a company statement saying the first doses will arrive in the UK in the next few days.

“The government today accepted the recommendation of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for use,” the UK health department said in a statement.

“The vaccine will be available across the UK from next week,” the statement said, with priority groups including nursing home residents, health and care staff.

In today’s RTÉ News At One, Donnelly explained that the UK simply has a different process than the EU.

As it stands, the plan for Ireland and the EU is for the European Medicines Agency to evaluate both the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine and the Moderna vaccine by December 29 at the latest, he said.

“There is not much difference, there are a few weeks of difference,” Donnelly said. “But it’s basically because we are working with the European Medicines Agency, the UK after Brexit obviously has its own process.”

Meanwhile, nine ultra-low temperature Covid-19 vaccine freezer trucks have arrived in the country to assist with the deployment of a Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine.

The vaccine must be kept at -70 degrees and specialized freezers are needed to store the vaccine.

Speaking today during questions from leaders, the Taoiseach said the work of the government’s vaccine task force is “progressing well.”

Planning is being done on how to implement the vaccine, with the infrastructure for the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine “already coming into play,” Micheál Martin said.

The task force is tasked with implementing a national immunization program, Martin said, adding that he would rather let them “get on with their work” before presenting their plan to him on Dec. 11.

Martin said the HSE will be a key factor in implementing the plan, while the Department of Health and the Minister of Health will oversee operations.