An introduction to the Understanding the characteristics of COVID-19 Vaccines pages

Overview

COVID-19 vaccines must be handled with care, and following the manufacturer’s instructions. This series of articles considers each COVID-19 vaccine in turn, outlining critical information and signposting the Summary of Product Characteristics.

These are:

  • Understanding the characteristics of Comirnaty Original / Omicron BA.4-5
  • Understanding the characteristics of Comirnaty 10 Concentrate for children
  • Understanding the characteristics of Comirnaty 3 (THREE) concentrate vaccine
  • Understanding the characteristics of VidPrevtyn Beta
  • Understanding the characteristics of Spikevax Original/Omicron BA.4-5

For guidance and example standard operating procures relating to the handling and preparation of COVID-19 vaccines, see our Managing Covid-19 Vaccines: Guidance and SOPs article.

Spring 2023 Update

Following the JCVI announcement that there will be a Spring 2023 COVID-19 vaccine booster campaign, SPS has updated our guidance and example Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to include only the vaccines which will be used initially for the spring campaign in England. These are:

  • Comirnaty Original / Omicron BA.4-5
  • Comirnaty 10 Concentrate for children
  • VidPrevtyn Beta
  • Spikevax Original/Omicron BA.4-5
  • Comirnaty 3 (THREE) Concentrate

Additional materials will be published as other vaccines are deployed.

Update history

  1. Added Comirnaty 3 (THREE) Concentrate
  1. Added Spikevax Original/Omicron BA.4-5
  1. Coming soon note added for Comirnaty 3 (THREE) Concentrate and Spikevax Original/Omicron BA.4-5
  1. Updated to cover vaccines used in the Spring 2023 campaign
  1. Nuvaxovid and Vaxzevria resources not provided by SPS. Statement added to clarify.
  1. Published