What is the process for identifying a batch of vaccines that cannot be used due to lack of quality, how many of those have been used, and are any being provided in their place?
As stated on the UK Government website, the quality of each batch of any COVID-19 vaccine will be evaluated by an independent laboratory. The independent laboratory will also carry out a thorough review of the manufacturer batch documentation that describes the production process and quality control testing performed by the company.
In the UK, this independent testing is performed by the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), an expert centre of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Before any batch can be released for deployment, the NIBSC will issue a certificate confirming the independent testing has been performed and the batch is compliant with the relevant specifications for the product
We work closely with the UK Government to ensure that if any batches are not able to be used for quality reasons beyond our control, they are replaced in a timely and safe manner.