Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine approval

The UK Government has invested more than £88 million into the development of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine developed and made by scientists in the UK and has pre-ordered 100 million doses.

Responding to the announcement that the UK medicines regulator has authorised the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for use, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said:

“This is absolutely fantastic news. Every additional vaccine which becomes available takes us a step closer to our normal lives.

“Like the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, the UK Government has procured and paid for millions of doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for all parts of the UK, and with vaccine production taking place in North Wales it will put Wales on the frontline of the global stage in the fight again the Covid pandemic.

“From our financial support for workers to vaccine procurement and the assistance provided by our military personnel, the UK Government has been supporting Wales and all of the UK throughout the pandemic.”

Background:

• The UK Government has invested more than £88 million into the development of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine developed and made by scientists in the UK and has pre-ordered 100 million doses.
• Approved vaccines will be available across the UK, free at the point of delivery, according to need.
• We have procured vaccines on behalf of all parts of the country. The UK Government is working with the devolved administrations to ensure it is deployed fairly to all across the UK.
• Vaccination are managed by the health services in each nation: NHS England and NHS Improvement, NHS Wales, NHS Scotland, and Health and Social Care Northern Ireland. The UK government is working closely with the Devolved Administrations to ensure an aligned approach to COVID-19 vaccine deployment across the UK.
• Oxford University/AstraZeneca will be supplying the vaccine on a not-for-profit basis for the duration of the pandemic across the world, and in perpetuity to low-and middle-income countries.