New measures launched to support mass rollout of Covid-19 vaccines  

The government on Friday (August 28) has outlined a raft of measures to allow the safe mass rollout of Covid-19 vaccines.

The latest outlined measures support the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to permit temporary authorisation for the use of a new vaccine.

The new rules and safeguards will strengthen the UK’s ability to successfully deploy a nation-wide vaccination programme, which will be crucial in saving lives and bringing the current pandemic to an end, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has said.

The measures include:

• Reinforced safeguards to support the MHRA to grant temporary authorisation for the use of a new Covid-19 vaccine ‒ provided it meets the highest safety and quality standards
• Expanding the trained workforce who can administer Covid-19 and flu vaccines to improve access and protect the public
• Clarifying the scope of the protection from civil liability for the additional workforce that could be allowed to administer vaccinations

If a vaccine is discovered before 2021, the proposals will bolster existing powers that allow the MHRA to consider approving its use, before a full product licence is granted, provided it is proven to be safe and effective during robust and extensive clinical trials.

The measures are necessary because during the Brexit transition period, a new potential Covid-19 vaccine must be granted a licence by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The regulations will permit the MHRA to consider giving temporary authorisation allowing patients to benefit while it undergoes the full licensing process, with reinforced conditions attached to ensure safety, quality and efficacy.

This is a precautionary measure and will be used as a last resort if there is a strong public health justification for widespread use of a vaccine before it has been granted a product licence.

From 2021, MHRA will have a national licensing system in place and will be responsible for granting licences for potential Covid-19 vaccines and treatments once they meet high standards of safety and effectiveness.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, said: “We are making progress in developing Covid-19 vaccines which we hope will be important in saving lives, protecting healthcare workers and returning to normal in future.

“If we develop effective vaccines, it’s important we make them available to patients as quickly as possible but only once strict safety standards have been met.

“The proposals consulted on today suggest ways to improve access and ensure as many people are protected from Covid-19 and flu as possible without sacrificing the absolute need to ensure that any vaccine used is both safe and effective.”

A consultation is being launched today, which will look to amend the Human Medicine Regulations 2012 and will last three weeks, seeking the opinions and advice on the proposals from health experts and key stakeholder groups.

The measures could come into force by October, ahead of the winter season.

The consultation will look at clarifying the scope of the protection from civil liability, which the regulations already give to healthcare workers and manufacturers, to ensure it applies to the companies which order the medicines and the additional workforce that could be allowed to administer vaccinations.

This will establish a fairer and more equal footing and encourage companies to place medicines on the markets as soon as possible, ensuring UK patients can be the first to benefit.