Should we be concerned that the Oxford Vaccine hasn't been approved yet?

[Sertchgi123]

Every day I'm looking at the news to see what's happening with the Oxford vaccine.

Does anyone have any idea why it's not been approved yet? Am I just being impatient?

I too am constantly refreshing my news feed in eager anticipation of hearing it's been approved. I feel that if and when it is, that could be a game changer. I thought that the fact that the BBC ran an interview with Sarah Gilbert last Sunday, followed by a very positive Panorama programme, was a hint that approval was imminent. Doesn't look likely this week at any rate. Hopefully this side of Christmas.

I think it’s the discrepancy with the dosing data where a mistake in manufacturing led to them deciding to give people a half dose then a full dose and then finding it seemed to be more effective. It was a small but significant number of candidates so they need to establish more facts.

I believe they’ve teamed up with the Russian Sputnik vaccine (which is essentially the same) as they’ve got a data for the regime which closely matches the one found by accident in the Oxford one.

It’s frustrating but it’s still busy behind the scenes I’m sure.

I think it got delayed by the additional efforts to get approval to split the pfizer packs and send them to care homes, because that was able to be approved fast enough to get priority vaccination moving. As soon as there are two vaccines, they also need to confirm who should get which vaccine. Again that's a little complicated by Pfizer not being able to be split and then kept for long periods, so it's important to vaccinate a batch of people (twice) to urgent wastage.

(*prevent wastage, not urgent)

I don't think its too concerning yet.

It was important to get that 1st vaccine approved and kicked off before Xmas, for physcological reasons more than anything.

But in reality, any vaccine campaign cannot start in earnest until the new year.

It will be approved when it's needed.

I don't see why. There is one already approved and it's being administered.

@VettiyaIruken - but it's not nearly as suitable & we don't have enough

From what I've read about the mRNA vaccine it sounds like a good step forward to me and the technology is potentially a game changer in cancer research and treating some other conditions. What I've read is quite exciting.

Maybe because they were criticised for approving the Pfizer vaccine so quickly? I knew the Oxford one would take longer because of the results.

I’m very confident that we will be using this vaccine some time soon.

This is normal. Don't stress. Unlike normal vaccine development, regulators have been involved in parallel to development, so assessing data as it comes in, rather than waiting for the end. It will still take time, but I'd imagine any major issues should have been picked up on already.

To another PP who asked why do we need the Oxford vaccine approved, we've already got Pfizer? - We can only buy in a limited number of vaccines from Pfizer etc, to vaccinate the most vulnerable. We will need a range of vaccine types ultimately, partly because some vaccines may work better in different groups, partly because the whole world is trying to get hold of the same vaccine supplies and some of the vaccines in development will not make the final stage. We will need to manufacture some vaccines of our own, to have sufficient, and that's where the Oxford/AZ vaccine comes in.

I think I read on here the way the data was presented was a bit shit and that’s causing the delay

I think I read on here

Must be true then 😅😉

@Osirus

Maybe because they were criticised for approving the Pfizer vaccine so quickly? I knew the Oxford one would take longer because of the results.

I’m very confident that we will be using this vaccine some time soon.

This was definitely my thinking. The MHRA got a lot of stick by other nations for the quick approval of the Pfizer. I do believe that part of the delay is so they are not seen to be too quick with this one too especially with the complex data and doses regime to consider.

The data was quite messy and complicated wasn't it? So, quite rightly, they will be thorough and take time going through it all. I'm massively impatient for it to be approved too but they need to do the right thing and have people see that they are being careful to inspire confidence in the vaccine.

@Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady

I think I read on here

Must be true then 😅😉

I hope it's available soon, it will definitely be a game changer!

You gotta laugh....

I’m sure it will be passed as soon as they have made a decision.