02/12/2020
The approval of a COVID-19 vaccine has been welcomed by Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK.
The vaccine, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, today received approval from the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the body responsible for regulating medicines.
The Chief Minister said:
“The approval today of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is a milestone in the fight against COVID-19. 2020 has been an incredibly difficult year and today’s news offers a path to a brighter 2021.
“The Isle of Man will have access to a supply of the 40 million doses the UK has on order. Our supply will be proportionate to our population, ensuring equity across the British Islands as the vaccine is rolled out.
“A mass vaccination programme of this scope and scale is a significant and complex logistical exercise. It will take time. The most vulnerable groups will be prioritised for the vaccine, ensuring those at the highest risk are the first to benefit from the protection it offers.”
More details on the vaccination programme will be outlined at a COVID-19 briefing tomorrow at 4pm.