Barnard Castle’s got lotta bottle...
NOVAVAX PLANT TO OPEN IN TOWN ..all I got was a lousy eye test
BRITAIN is to produce up to 60million doses of Covid-19 vaccine – in Barnard Castle!
The tiny Co Durham market town became famous a year ago when Dominic Cummings drove there to “test his eyesight” after fleeing London as the pandemic hit.
But yesterday PM Boris Johnson announced the town – population just 7,040 – is to take a vital role in the battle against the virus.
From early May it will be the location of a “fill and finish” manufacturing plant for enough doses to protect everyone in Britain.
According to the results of a phase three trial here, Novavax – the only totally British Covid vaccine – offers 100% protection against severe illness, including all hospital admissions and death.
It is 96% effective against the original strain of the virus, has an 86% rate against the Kent variant and can be stored in a regular medical fridge.
Mr Johnson said he was “delighted” by the deal which would “further boost our vaccine rollout”.
He said: “The vaccines taskforce has worked hand in glove with business to successfully deliver vaccines to the whole of the UK and this agreement will continue to support our approach.
“We remain on track to offer a first jab to all over-50s by April 15 and all adults by the end of July.
“I want to once again encourage everyone to come forward for a vaccine when you’re called.’’
The announcement comes amid a trade war between the UK and EU which has seen the bloc threaten to stop supplies of Astrazeneca and Pfizer vaccines made on the continent from being shipped to Britain.
The new deal means Novavax jabs will not have to leave the UK.
Though the raw ingredients are already produced in Billingham near Middlesbrough, the original plan was for vials to be prepared and packaged in Europe.
That part of the process will now be done in Britain too.
Roger Connor, president of Glaxosmithkline Vaccines, said its Barnard Castle facility was now “undertaking the rapid preparation work required to manufacture up to 60m doses of this vaccine”.
He added: “We have ensured we can deliver these volumes without impacting supply of our other vital medicines and vaccines, and without disruption to Covid-19 collaborations GSK is engaged in globally.’’
Yesterday it was announced Britain’s daily Covid cases dropped 13% in a week. More than 30.4m people have now had at least one jab.
The Government said there had ●
been another 23 deaths from coronavirus and 4,654 new cases.