Letter from the JCVI on use of the Moderna vaccine in the COVID-19 immunisation programme: 7 April 2021
Published 8 April 2021
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2021
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-from-the-health-and-social-care-secretary-on-use-of-the-moderna-vaccine/letter-from-the-jcvi-on-use-of-the-moderna-vaccine-in-the-covid-19-immunisation-programme-7-april-2021
From:
JCVI Secretariat
133 to 155 Waterloo Road
London
SE1 8UG
To:
Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Dear Secretary of State,
Re: Use of the Moderna vaccine in the COVID-19 immunisation programme
The Moderna vaccine has been authorised by the MHRA for use for COVID-19 vaccination in the UK. The JCVI committee has reviewed published and unpublished data for the Moderna vaccine. The vaccine appears to have a good safety profile, and the data indicates high efficacy in adults aged 18 years and over, including protection against severe disease. Existing data is consistent with high levels of short-term protection following the first dose of vaccine, with further protection obtained following the second dose of vaccine.
The committee advises that the Moderna vaccine can be used in the first phase of the programme for priority groups 1 to 9, to allow flexibility, and in due course for phase 2 of the vaccination programme. A 2-dose vaccine schedule is currently advised as this is likely to offer longer lasting protection.
The committee advises delivery of the first dose of the Moderna to as many eligible individuals as possible should be initially prioritised over delivery of a second vaccine dose, in line with our published advice.[footnote 1] The second dose of the Moderna vaccine may be given in the committee’s view between 4 to 12 weeks following the first dose. This will be ‘off-label’ use of the vaccine, which the committee agree is necessary in the current pandemic situation. As with the other COVID-19 vaccines authorised for use in the UK, JCVI advises that the first and second doses should be with the same vaccine whenever possible.
Yours sincerely
Prof Wei Shen Lim
Chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (COVID-19)