Britain has become the first country to approve Valneva’s inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, which is easier to store than mRNA vaccines and relies on decades-old technology widely used in flu and polio jabs.
Valneva, a French biotech firm, is hoping the shot will appeal to people who are reluctant about getting the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna jabs and may prefer a more traditional one.
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced the authorisation on Thursday, saying Valneva’s shot met the required safety, quality and effectiveness standards.
