Third coronavirus vaccine approved for use in the UK

A third coronavirus vaccine has been approved for use in the UK, the Department for Health has announced.

On Friday, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the Moderna coronavirus vaccine.

But unlike the previous jabs, the Moderna vaccine will not be available for use straight away, with the first doses not expected to arrive until the spring.

The MHRA accepted the recommendation of the Commission on Human Medicines and authorised the Moderna vaccine following months of rigorous clinical trials.

The vaccine is 94% effective in preventing disease, including in the elderly.

The Government has also agreed to purchase an additional 10 million doses of the Moderna vaccine on top of its previous order of seven million, taking the total to 17 million.

As agreed when the UK originally pre-ordered the vaccine, supplies will begin to be delivered to the UK from spring once Moderna expands its production capability.

It follows the rollout of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, which was approved last week, with the first patients vaccinated on Monday.

James Shaw 82, from Dundee, was one of the first Scots to receive the Oxford AstraZeneca inoculation at Lochee health centre.

He said: “My wife and I are delighted to be receiving this vaccination. I have asthma and bronchitis and I have been desperate to have it so I am really pleased to be one of the first to be getting it.

“All of my friends have said they are going to have the vaccine when it is their turn and I would encourage everyone who is offered this vaccination to take it.”

In December, the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was approved, with care home residents among the first to be given the jab.