UK approves Valneva's Covid-19 vaccine

Britain has approved a new coronavirus vaccine by the Austrian-French drugmaker Valneva, the UK regulatory authority MHRA said on Thursday.

"An approval has been granted after the Valneva Covid-19 vaccine was found to meet the required safety, quality and effectiveness standards," the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said in a statement.

Last month, Valneva's Covid-19 vaccine -- which uses the traditional technology of inactivated virus -- received its first approval with an emergency authorisation for use in Bahrain. 

Valneva had committed to supplying the Gulf kingdom with one million doses in an advance purchase agreement last year.