What are the obstacles to the deployment of the Covid vaccine in the UK? | Society

“I have set a goal” Tweet Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi said on Monday. A few minutes ago, Boris Johnson ordered the NHS to provide 13.9 million Covid vaccines by mid-February, requiring approximately 2 million doses per day. “It’s achievable, but everything needs to be done right every day,” said Professor Niraisha, head of chemical engineering at Imperial College London.

Here are some of the key issues with the UK’s largest vaccination program to date:

Manufacturing

Two companies, Oxford Biomedica and Keele University-based Cobra Biologics, produce the newly approved Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine, grown from specialized laboratory cells and processed in the finest manufacturing suite. doing. Oxford BioMedica, the largest producer, works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and its staff worked to move supplies during Christmas and New Year. He said the goal was to offer it under a “tens of millions” contract with AstraZeneca.

Bottling and safety check

Vaccine in frozen form “Fill and finish” plant It is run by Wockhardt, an Indian-based company located in Wrexham, northern Wales. This is where the vaccine is placed in vials to speed up the process and includes 8 and 10 doses.

Each batch must be quality approved by the National Institute for Biological Standards (NIBSC) under an emergency permit granted by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) in late December.

According to the government, this is where there is a delay. Oxford BioMedica said it will perform the necessary tests and send the data to NIBSC as a quality certified plant. The MHRA said NIBSC inspectors are also conducting some tests, but at the same time ensuring speed. “NIBSC has expanded its capacity to allow multiple batches to be tested simultaneously and to do this as quickly as possible without compromising quality and safety,” he said.

The DHSC said vaccination tests can usually take up to 20 days, but are trying to reduce that to 5 days. Testing is usually performed in two phases. Initially, the manufacturer sends the data to NIBSC inspectors. NIBSC then performs its own tests, including when the vaccine is in a vial. MHRA said these tests are being done in parallel to release the vaccine as soon as possible.

Primary care doctor

According to the British Medical Association, the GP is set up to run a high-dose vaccination clinic in time for day-to-day operations. That is, you need to give something. Approval is required to suspend non-urgent work such as regular health checkups and regulatory inspections. He also said the retired GP is eager to come back, helping vaccination drive face a series of difficult bureaucratic obstacles. For example, despite your medical background, you must complete 20-30 modules of online training to become a vaccinated person. But it’s still hopeful.

“We are all excited about where this is heading,” said Dr. Michael Malholland, Vice-Chairman of the Royal College of General Practical Medicine. “We’re seeing people from the 80’s and 90’s coming in, and they finally got something that meant they could leave the house, at least it’s going on. It’s a way. But it’s important to remember. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. “

Vaccination center

Starting next week, seven mass vaccination centers will be set up in places such as sports stadiums and exhibition halls to increase vaccinations when the most vulnerable people are protected. By the end of this week, Johnson said, by the end of this week, there would be 207 vaccination hospitals and 775 sites, led primarily by the GP, which is a clinic, in community centers and small community hospitals. However, not all areas are covered. Sarah Butikofer, leader of the North Norfolk District Council, one of Britain’s oldest populations, has criticized the fact that there are still no “horrifying” vaccination sites in the area.

Care home

Residents of care facilities are one of the top priority groups, but delivering Pfizer / BioNTech vaccines to them has never been easier because they need to be kept very cold. Several care facilities in Kent, one of the most infected areas in the community, have complained that the vaccine is not yet available. AstraZeneca vaccine, which can be kept at refrigerator temperature, should be easy to administer. Guidance issued last week revealed to the GP that vaccination should continue at some care homes with Covid cases as long as they are isolated and restricted.