Coronavirus vaccine: Emergency powers to allow rollout of unlicensed vaccine being considered by Government

The Government is considering using emergency powers to allow the rollout of a vaccine to the public, even if it is unlicensed. In an open consultation document, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has floated the possibility of authorising the supply of an unlicensed vaccine if there is 'sufficient evidence to demonstrate the safety, quality and efficacy of the vaccine'. The DHSC adds that 'unlicensed' does not mean 'untested', and that any unlicensed vaccine will have gone through several safety trials before being used by the general public. The document, first reported in the I newspaper, says that the 'preferred route' of deployment of a Covid-19 vaccine is through the 'usual marketing authorisation (product licensing) process'.