Ireland could get the first consignment of a Covid-19 vaccine by the end of this year, the Irish Independent has learned. Managing director of Pfizer Ireland, Paul Reid, believes there are strong signs his firm's experimental jab could be approved for emergency authorisation at the end of next month. While a number of hurdles have to be cleared before the vaccine can be rolled out, Mr Reid said the firm was moving through the clinical trial programme at "breakneck speed". If we have an advance purchase agreement with the EU Commission that is secured, part of that would include a volume we think we can make available across Europe." Meanwhile, HSE chief Paul Reid has said a "population distribution" plan is being developed to decide how a potential vaccine will be released here.

Source: Irish Independent October 24, 2020 01:30 UTC