Pharma giant Pfizer has said it expects the rollout of a Covid vaccine in Ireland during 2021.
The company said it could submit their vaccine for approval to the US before the end of November.
Speaking at government buildings on Monday morning, it’s Vice President of Global Supply, Dr Paul Duffy told reporters: “We are still in development phases of the vaccine but we are cautiously optimistic based upon the results that we have seen in the clinical trials.
“All going well, we will have results coming through in November with a potential timing for filing to the FDA at the end of November.
“I would expect to see the availability of the vaccine during 2021 while 2020 will be very minimal circulation.
“But 2021 we should start seeing it come through.”
Dr Duffy said Pfizer is already in discussions with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Commission to provide the vaccine to EU governments.
He said it currently has 44,000 people taking part in the trial and is “making good progress in the development of a Covid-19 vaccine.”
He said: “If this trial proves successful, we could seek emergency use authorisation in the US as early as the third week of November.
“Discussions are ongoing with the European Commission to provide a vaccine to the EU governments.
“We’ve also commenced the complex process of manufacturing the vaccine in anticipation of approval.
“There’s discussion ongoing with European regulators they’ve got to get concluded also.”
Mr Duffy joined Taoiseach Micheál Martin to announce a €300 million capital investment in its Irish operations.
The investment will provide 300 jobs over a three year period and will support the further development of manufacturing sites in Grange Castle, Newbridge and Ringaskiddy.
