Government may provide indemnity to NZ supplier of Covid-19 vaccine

The Ministry of Health is planning to fast-track the approval process for a Covid-19 vaccine, and won’t rule out offering a supplier indemnity from any potential claims resulting from its use.

It said Medsafe will ensure a vaccine is safe for use, and it will not be used on people unless clinical data suggests it is safe and effective.

A vaccine is the golden ticket back to normality, and is eagerly sought by people throughout the world. This week, pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Pfizer announced they were launching trials of a Covid-19 vaccine which they say, if successful, could lead to approval and widespread use by the end of the year.

More than 150 coronavirus vaccine candidates are in various stages of development, with some two dozen prospects already conducting human testing. Politicians are wanting to rush them into use when they are ready to go. New Zealand is no different, and a Ministry of Health spokesperson said in a statement that it is looking at how it approves vaccines.

“As part of the Covid-19 vaccine strategy, the Ministry is working to develop an expedited regulatory approval process that will still maintain standards,” the statement read.

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