Pharmafile.com’s weekly COVID-19 news round-up
pharmafile | December 23, 2020 | News story | Research and Development | COVID-19, Vaccine
The United States’ mission to inoculate its population is well underway this week; not only has the FDA given emergency authorisation for the widespread use of Moderna’s COVID-19 jab, but the agency also declared that vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can contain as many as two extra doses.
Meanwhile, a number of other countries are on their way to securing vaccinations; New Zealand has secured 10.7m doses of Novavax’s vaccine, and the EU has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech shot for use in all 27 of its member states.
1. FDA says Pfizer vaccine vials contain extra doses, boosting US supply – Published 17/12/2020
Vials of the US-based company’s vaccine were expected to contain only five doses, but pharmacists have found that each vial could provide up to seven.
2. Novavax secures deal with New Zealand for 10.7m doses of COVID-19 vaccine – Published 17/12/20
Novavax has announced an Advance Purchase Agreement with New Zealand for the purchase of 10.7 million doses of NVX-CoV2373, the biotechnology company’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
3. Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine receives emergency approval from FDA – Published 21/12/20
Moderna has announced that the FDA yesterday authorised the emergency use of mRNA-1273, the biotechnology company’s vaccine against COVID-19 in individuals 18 years of age or older.
4. EU gives green light to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine – Published on 22/12/20
The EMA has recommended the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use across the EU’s 27 countries, with the first doses set to be given before the end of this month.
5. Pfizer and Moderna test COVID-19 vaccines against new strain – Published 22/12/20
Pfizer and Moderna have begun testing their COVID-19 vaccines against the new, fast-spreading strain of the virus that was recently identified in the UK and other countries, CNN has reported.
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