Moderna’s Covid vaccine has been approved in Europe - but when will the UK get it?

The Moderna Covid-19 vaccine has been given a recommendation by European health officials, granting a conditional marketing authorisation for the jab for adults.

The vaccine is currently still being reviewed in the UK by the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

94.1% efficacy

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Emer Cooke, executive director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said: “This vaccine provides us with another tool to overcome the current emergency.

“It is a testament to the efforts and commitment of all involved that we have this second positive vaccine recommendation just short of a year since the pandemic was declared by WHO (World Health Organisation).”

The Moderna vaccine jab is the second to be recommended by the EMA after the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

The Moderna vaccine was hailed as “tremendously exciting” when the US pharmaceutical company posted its phase three clinical trial results in November.

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Its trial involved more than 30,000 people, half of whom received the vaccine and the other half received a placebo.

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The vaccine demonstrated a 94.1 per cent efficacy in the trial. The trial also showed 90.9 per cent efficacy in participants at risk of severe Covid-19.

When will the UK approve the Moderna vaccine?

The UK has ordered enough Moderna vaccine for around 3.5 million people, who will each receive two doses.

There is no confirmed date of when the vaccine will be given UK approval, however, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has been conducting a rolling review of the vaccine.

Moderna is scaling up its European supply chain, which means the doses ordered would become available in the UK in the spring earliest.