Care home residents and their caregivers are at the top of the list to receive the Pfizer / BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine after clearing all regulatory hurdles. Approved for widespread use All over the UK on Wednesday.
The first dose of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine will arrive shortly from Belgium.
The vaccine will be shipped to 23 locations nationwide in temperature-controlled heavy-duty trucks.
Refrigerate in large packs
However, because the vaccine is distributed in batches of 975 vials that must be stored at minus 70 ° C, it was initially revealed that supplies were unlikely to be sent to a care facility.
At a press conference yesterday, NHS Angland CEO Sir Simon Stevens counts before the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approves how to split packs for safe distribution of cold chains in small quantities. Suggested that it could take a week.
The government’s ambition to start vaccination of care home residents next week is likely to be limited to care home residents who will attend hospital appointments in the coming days.
The first program of vaccinations for nursing homes could take place this month, Sir Simon said, “the wind is blowing.”
Priority group “some mix”
During a Q & A session at the BBC this morning, Professor Jonathan Vantam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the United Kingdom, said in a “some fusion” development between the top priority group and the next priority group (including 80-year-olds). I said I was expecting it. And above, and frontline health and social care workers.
He added that it was “infeasible” to bring the vaccine into individual homes when people were locked up in their homes.
Meanwhile, vaccination will begin next week at 50 “hospital hubs” in the United Kingdom, and GP clinics will be able to operate local vaccination centers when inventory becomes available.
Professor Van-Tam said that the AstraZeneca / Oxford vaccine can be stored at normal refrigerator temperatures, which could change with regulatory approval.
Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, answered a question at Holyrood this afternoon, stating that a first dose of 65,000 doses of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine was promised.
Asked when residents of Scottish care facilities could be vaccinated, she said, “In the first period, if it is difficult to vaccinate a care facility, obviously these supplies [the] Staff working in the NHS and long-term care facilities. “
Welsh government Said ready to deploy Pfizer / BioNTech vaccines start in hospitals and are phased in to the community.
However, “in reality, the vaccine cannot be delivered to care facilities at this stage,” said Vaughan Göttching, Minister of Health and Social Services.
Northern Ireland Minister of Health, Robin Swan, Verified Healthcare and social care workers, including care home staff, will be one of the top priority groups as well as care home residents.
Guidance on Pfizer / BioNTech vaccines for healthcare professionals
MHRA released on Wednesday Information for healthcare professionals For storage and administration of Pfizer / BioNTech vaccines.
It is advised that every 195 packs will take about 3 hours to thaw at normal refrigeration temperatures of 2 ° C to 8 ° C.
After thawing, the undiluted vaccine can be stored in a standard refrigerator for up to 5 days at room temperature up to 25 ° C for up to 2 hours.
Each vial (0.45 mL) contains 5 doses that need to be diluted with sodium chloride before use.
The diluted vial should be used immediately and within 6 hours after dilution.
The British Medical Association (BMA) Asked for further guidance How GP surgery is expected to treat and deliver vaccines.
Dr. Richard Vautrey, Chairman of the BMAGP, said, “Given the widespread publicity of practical constraints on storage and transportation, both NHS England and the government will discuss how this first phase includes practice. Clarification and guidance is needed.
