Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Region will get 570,000 doses of new vaccine
NORTHERN Ireland is expected to receive 570,000 of the 20 million Pfizer coronavirus vaccines ordered by Westminster if it is approved.
A Department of Health spokesperson confirmed: “We are part of the UK order.
“The vaccine will be split using the Barnett formula so for the first 20 million doses which are scheduled to be in the UK by the end of March 2021, Northern Ireland would receive roughly 570,000 doses.
“This is very good news, although the vaccine stills needs to officially pass the phase three trials and then receive authorisation from MHRA before it can be used in the UK.”
The Pfizer and Biontech vaccine is one of a number under development and undergoing testing.
Pfizer said its candidate was more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19 during a major trial.
The firms added that “protection is achieved 28 days after the initiation of the vaccination, which consists of a two-dose schedule”.
Queen’s University Professor Ultan Power said it is “very exciting news”.
He added: “It’s only halfway through the programme. They have announced 94 individuals, I think, that were showing positive for Covid-19 from the programme.
“Their target is 164 people to develop a sickness in order to have statistically robust data that will allow us to have much more confidence that the vaccine actually is working.
“But even on this interim analysis this is very exciting – 90% efficacy is really top notch in terms of vaccines. If this pans out it will be a major breakthrough for us all across the world.
“We were first introduced to the virus in December 2019 and the fact that we have a vaccine that may be approved for use within a year is absolutely unprecedented. It’s really historic.”
Health Minister Robin Swann welcomed Pfizer and Biontech’s announcement as a major step forward, but cautioned the public not to “let down their guard”.
He said: “We have been waiting a long time for positive news. While there are no guarantees, there is a possibility that vaccination of at-risk sections of our community could begin by the end of this year.”
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