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The Dublin-born professor who has led the development team behind the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at the University of Oxford has celebrated a “historic moment” after it was officially approved for use in the UK.
Professor Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute at Oxford, said that everyone who had worked long hours on the vaccine is delighted to have gotten to this point so quickly.
“For the past 25 years, the Jenner Institute staff have worked to develop vaccines using novel technologies to protect people around the world from diseases that claim many lives each year,” he said.
“The work is based on many years of research by a dedicated team of vaccinologists, and we are delighted to see the first emergency use license.”
Professor Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, added: “The regulator’s assessment that this is a safe and effective vaccine is a landmark moment and an endorsement of the enormous effort of a dedicated international team of researchers and our dedicated participants from the test.
“Although this is just the beginning, we will begin to get ahead of the pandemic, protect health and economies when the vulnerable are vaccinated everywhere, as many as possible as soon as possible.”
Professor Sarah Gilbert, a vaccination professor at Oxford, added: “This is a day to celebrate the team developing the vaccine, after a year of extremely hard work under difficult circumstances. Now that the first authorization to use the vaccine outside of clinical trials has been granted, we still have more to do and will continue to provide more data to multiple regulatory authorities, until we can see that the vaccine is being used to save lives. the world.”
Health Minister Robin Swann welcomed the approval, which will lead to a major expansion in the UK immunization campaign, and confirmed that 50,000 doses are already in Northern Ireland.
“I want people to be hopeful,” he said. “I want people to look to 2021, but I also want people to be cautious.”
Prime Minister Arlene Foster said she was delighted with the progress of the vaccine. “Delighted with the progress of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine,” said Ms. Foster. “The world-class strength and brilliance of the UK scientists means that our most extensive vaccination program should start in Northern Ireland next week.”
DUP South Antrim MLA Pam Cameron said the news was “a tremendous boost for Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK in our fight against this disease.”
Ms. Cameron, who is also Vice Chair of the Stormont Health Committee, added: “This vaccine is significantly easier to store and transport, which will allow for faster vaccination implementation.”
Meanwhile, 33,683 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have been administered to nursing home residents and front-line health workers in Northern Ireland.
Vaccinations have been carried out in 80% of the residences.
The Health Department said that of those who have received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, 8,940 are nursing home residents, 10,484 are nursing home staff and 14,259 are front-line health and social care staff.
Belfast Telegraph
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