Image: Valneva
MHRA approves vaccine, despite ongoing controversy over government’s cancellation of contract with the company
A Covid-19 vaccine developed by French company Valneva has today been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
The UK’s independent medicines regulator has said it has become the first in the world to approve the vaccine, despite ongoing controversy surrounding the government’s cancellation of a contract with the company late last year.
The cancellation of the 100-million dose contract raised questions over the future of the company’s site in Livingston (pictured), Scotland, but an injection of £20 million in funding from Scottish Enterprise, including £12.5m for Covid-19 vaccine development, secured the facility’s expansion.
The whole-virus vaccine has been approved for use in people aged 18 to 50, with the first and second doses to be administered at least 28 days apart. Immunity kicks in only after the second dose, MHRA said.
The storage temperature of 2°C to 8°C is similar to that of a normal fridge, meaning it could be used in countries where keeping doses at very low temperatures is not possible.
The approval follows a “rigorous review of the safety, quality and effectiveness of this vaccine, and expert advice from the government’s independent scientific advisory body, the Commission on Human Medicines”, said June Raine, MHRA chief executive.