 said it would 'welcome' such a move and that it is up to manufacturers to develop this with private healthcare providers. Moderna and Pfizer, which both supply the UK government, are already preparing to sell Covid vaccines on the private market in the US this autumn. Neither company has yet set a price, though Moderna told Reuters news agency in March that it expected to offer the jab at around $130. Covid-19 vaccines have so far only been available in the UK through the NHS and only to those who meet eligibility criteria set by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. The number of people who will qualify for a booster this autumn has been cut from last year by about 12 million, as the age bracket was raised to over 65s rather than over 50s. Last week, the World Health Organisation declared a new strain of Covid, known as Eris, a variant of interest, as it grows in prevalence in countries including the UK and US. Speaking to The Times, a UKHSA spokesman said the organisation would not prevent the sale of vaccines directly to the public. 'We have spoken to manufacturers we're in contract with and made it clear we won't prevent them initiating a private market for Covid-19 vaccines, rather we'd welcome such an innovation in the UK,' they said. 'As far as we're concerned, the ball is in the court of the manufacturers to develop the market with private healthcare providers.' Private jabs would probably be delivered through ready-filled syringes, rather than the multi-dose vials currently used by the NHS, the paper reported, adding that these would likely be available by spring at the earliest. Professor Adam Finn of the University of Bristol, a member of the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, told the paper in a personal capacity: 'A private market goes some way towards solving things for peop){kind=link}
UK Health Security Agency said it would ‘welcome such an innovation in the UK’ but the ball was in the court of manufacturers
Covid-19 vaccines may be available privately in the UK for the first time next year, it has been reported.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it would “welcome” such a move and that it is up to manufacturers to develop this with private healthcare providers.
Moderna and Pfizer, which both supply the UK government, are already preparing to sell Covid vaccines on the private market in the US this autumn.
Neither company has yet set a price, though Moderna told Reuters news agency in March that it expected to offer the jab at around $130.