The fight against Covid-19 can be fought on more fronts as Janssen’s vaccine has been approved for use in the UK and a new vaccination centre is on the way for Carlisle this summer.

Cumbria's public health director Colin Cox confirmed that a new vaccination centre is on the way in the city.

“I believe there is at least one more vaccination centre coming on-stream in early June," he said.

However, he was unable to say where in the city the Covid-19 vaccines would be administered.

The news broke just as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved the use of Janssen’s Covid-19 vaccine in the UK.

The Belgian-made jab is the fourth to be approved for use on UK shores and needs just one dose to give 85 per cent efficacy against serious illness from coronavirus.

Mr Cox said: “It is very positive news to have had another vaccine approved; this will add to the supply available to us, though I imagine it will take a little while for that supply to start coming through properly.”

The UK has reportedly ordered 20 million doses of the vaccine which could be used as a booster in care homes to prepare for the winter.

Janssen’s vaccine is said to be more versatile than the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine as it can be stored easily and transported at refrigerator temperatures.

The Pfizer vaccine, which was the first to be approved for use in the UK, requires a complex “cold chain” supply infrastructure.

Advice on who should receive the jab will be on the way soon from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. The European Medicines Agency, the Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organisation.

Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, chair of the independent Commission on Human Medicines, said: “The independent Commission on Human Medicines and its Covid-19 Expert Working Group have carefully considered the MHRA’s evaluation of the application submitted by Janssen and are pleased to say that we have given the vaccine a positive recommendation.

“This is yet another win for the vaccination programme, which has saved thousands of lives so far."