A second “bivalent” coronavirus vaccine has been approved by the UK’s health watchdog ahead of a series of booster jabs this autumn.
The regulator confirmed the Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine had met its standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.
The vaccine is called 'bivalent' because it targets both the original strain of coronavirus and the Omicron variant that emerged at the end of 2021, and follows a similar booster from Moderna which was approved in August.
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Dr June Raine, MHRA chief executive, said: “I am pleased to announce that we now have a second approved vaccine for the UK autumn booster programme. The clinical trial of the Pfizer/BioNTech bivalent vaccine showed a strong immune response against the Omicron BA.1 variant as well as the original strain.
“Bivalent vaccines are helping us to meet the challenge of an ever-evolving virus, to help protect people against Covid-19 variants.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Our vaccination programme has already saved countless lives, but it is absolutely vital we are not complacent as winter approaches. I have therefore accepted the advice of the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to add a Pfizer bivalent vaccine to our autumn Covid booster rollout.
“Along with the Moderna bivalent vaccine, this safe and effective vaccine will target two different variants – Omicron and the original Covid strain. These innovative vaccines will broaden immunity and strengthen our defences against what remains a life-threatening virus. If eligible, please come forward for a booster jab as soon as you are contacted by the NHS.”
People who will be offered a Covid booster vaccine in autumn 2022 include:
- residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
- frontline health and social care workers
- all adults aged 50 years and over
- persons aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, as set out in the Green Book
- persons aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- persons aged 16 to 49 years who are carers, as set out in the Green Book
- The NHS will contact those eligible in the coming weeks, and people are urged to come forward as soon as they are contacted.
- The NHS will outline further deployment details in due course.
In a statement, Pfizer UK country president Susan Rienow said: “We have been manufacturing the new vaccine at risk (ahead of approval being granted), and doses will be shipped immediately for use in the autumn booster programme to help protect people in the UK this winter season.”
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