A COVID vaccine could be just “weeks away” from being rolled out to public, the Government has said.
Matt Hancock revealed Britain is planning a mass coronavirus vaccination programme that could start in early December – with the health secretary due to give an update from Downing Street this evening (Friday, November 20, 2020).
What time is Matt Hancock’s press conference today?
Mr Hancock is expected to address the nation at 5pm this evening (November 20, 2020).
It is unclear who else will join Mr Hancock for the latest Downing Street conference.
What is he expected to announce?
The Health Secretary revealed this morning the crucial storage facilities for the Pfizer vaccine – which must be kept at a freezing minus 70 degrees – were already in place.
It means the Government is hopeful that a jab could be just weeks away.
Mr Hancock is expected to be quizzed on hopes for Christmas, as he lifted Brits’ spirits by saying ministers were working to give people some festive joy.
He appeared to rule out hugging relatives and friends at Christmas, as he said there are “promising signs” the current lockdown in England is working.
The Health Secretary said rules will still need to be in place over the festive period, with people observing social distancing as families come together.
Speaking on Times Radio, Mr Hancock said discussions with the devolved nations are continuing with the aim of reaching agreement on how families can celebrate the festive period.
He said there is a need to “respect the fact that we mustn’t spread the virus further but also respect the fact that Christmas is a special time where people get together, especially with their families”.
When will a Covid-19 vaccine be available in the UK?
Pfizer, Moderna and Britain’s own Astrazeneca are all in the race to deliver a Covid-19 vaccine – and they all showing promising results.
More than 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine have already been manufactured, the boss of the pharma giant Albert Bourla said yesterday.
Speaking to Sky News this morning Friday, November 20, 2020) Mr Hancock said: “We hope there is going to be a program of Covid vaccinations.
“We don’t know for sure yet, however we have seen increasingly good news on the Covid vaccine front over the last two weeks.”
He added that if one of the jabs is certified the mass roll out will likely come in the new year, with a small amount possibly available for Christmas.
Mr Hancock previously said that the vaccine programme will start at the beginning of December – if it gets the green safety light.
It will start with NHS staff, the vulnerable and the elderly, and make its way down through the age groups after that.
The Health Secretary also announced a huge free flu vaccination program for anyone over aged over 50 to start on December 1.
And anyone aged 50 or under could receive the vaccine by January 1, 2021.
He urged people to get vaccinated this winter, saying “if you get both flu and Covid that is really bad news”.
How can I watch the speech live?
You can catch press briefings live on Trending In The News’s YouTube channel.
Our live coronavirus blog will also be following the speech in real time from 5pm.
Most news channels and the BBC will also air the announcement live.
