A sixth coronavirus jab which may be more effective for longer has been approved for use in the UK by health officials.
The Covid vaccine developed by Valneva was given regulatory approval by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The UK is the first in the world to approve the vaccine. It has been approved for use in people aged 18 to 50 years, with the first and second doses to be taken at least 28 days apart.
The jab developed by the French firm, which has a factory in Livingston near Edinburgh, is the sixth Covid-19 vaccine to be granted an MHRA authorisation.
According to the British Medical Journal, the vaccine could appeal to those who are more hesitant about taking current vaccines on offer as they use relatively new technology in their rollout.
With this type of vaccine, the virus is grown in a lab and then made completely inactive so that it cannot infect cells or replicate in the body but can still trigger an immune response to the virus. This process is widely used already in the production of flu and polio vaccines.
The BMJ states: "As a whole virus vaccine, it may be more effective over a longer period of time (as more variants emerge) than those vaccines only targeting SARS-CoV-2’s characteristics protein spikes."
The UK had been due to receive 100 million doses of the French firm’s jab, but the Government cancelled the deal in September due to a “breach of obligations”.
Dr June Raine, MHRA Chief Executive, said: "Our approval of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Valneva today follows a rigorous review of the safety, quality and effectiveness of this vaccine, and expert advice from the government’s independent scientific advisory body, the Commission on Human Medicines.
Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, Chair of the independent Commission on Human Medicines, said: "The independent Commission on Human Medicines and its COVID-19 Expert Working Group has carefully considered the available evidence are pleased to say that we have advised that the benefit risk balance is positive. The vaccine is approved for use in people aged 18 to 50 years, with the first and second doses to be taken at least 28 days apart.
Each type of vaccine has a different pattern of antibody response over time. For the Valneva vaccine, two doses are required before a robust antibody response is raised. This means that people will need to be made aware that protection will only start after two doses.
The storage temperature for the Valneva vaccine - of 2°C to 8°C - is similar to that of a domestic fridge, making it appropriate for use in countries where storage at very low temperatures is not possible.
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