OXFORD University’s coronavirus vaccine has been approved by regulators today – and the jab will be rolled out to millions of Brits from Monday.
The news will bring much-needed hope as Covid cases surge, with thousands receiving treatment for the deadly bug in hospitals around the UK.
And it comes after months of effort from scientists in the UK, who have worked around the clock since the pandemic took hold to develop a jab.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The Government has today accepted the recommendation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to authorise Oxford University/AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine for use.
“This follows rigorous clinical trials and a thorough analysis of the data by experts at the MHRA, which has concluded that the vaccine has met its strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.”
They added: “The NHS has a clear vaccine delivery plan and decades of experience in delivering large scale vaccination programmes.
“It has already vaccinated hundreds of thousands of patients with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and its roll out will continue. Now the NHS will begin putting their extensive preparations into action to roll out the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine.”
‘GUIDED BY THE SCIENCE’
The Department of Health stressed it has “always been guided by the latest scientific advice” throughout the pandemic.
Its spokesperson said: “Having studied evidence on both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccines, the JCVI has advised the priority should be to give as many people in at-risk groups their first dose, rather than providing the required two doses in as short a time as possible.
“Everyone will still receive their second dose and this will be within 12 weeks of their first. The second dose completes the course and is important for longer term protection.”
“From today the NHS across the UK will prioritise giving the first dose of the vaccine to those in the most high-risk groups. With two vaccines now approved, we will be able to vaccinate a greater number of people who are at highest risk, protecting them from the disease and reducing mortality and hospitalisation.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed this morning that the rollout of the new vaccine will begin on January 4.
The boss of AstraZeneca declared over the weekend the scientists have found a “winning formula” with two doses of varied amounts.
Some 15million of the UK’s most vulnerable are set to get the inoculation by late February, officials hope.
It means that within weeks, Britain could be free of lockdowns altogether – and people can finally hug their loved ones.
As of Boxing Day, 24million people in the south and east are now in the country’s strictest Tier 4, with non-essential shops closed and household mixing banned.
Boris Johnson said the tough rules are needed to tackle a mutant strain of Covid surging through the country.
Yet it’s now believed we may have to hold on for just a few more weeks before life begins to return to normal.
Regulators have been passed the full data package for the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine at the weekend.
The UK’s Vaccines Minister told Trending In The News the massive effort to develop a vaccine had been heroic – and displayed “the best of British at every stage”.
Nadhim Zahawi said: “The heroic efforts of the team at the University of Oxford have paid off, with its home-grown vaccine shown to be effective in older people as well as young.
“From day one of the pandemic, people from across the nation have been working day and night to find a safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine.
“We have seen the best of British at every stage, from our world-leading scientists working around the clock to carry out vital research, to builders and engineers constructing new facilities.
“Manufacturers are boosting their capabilities and hundreds of thousands of people in every corner of the UK are taking part in clinical trials — developing, finding and preparing for a vaccine has involved us all.”
The UK has already ordered a whopping 100million doses of the jab – adding to the 40m vaccines already paid for from Pfizer.
Around 800,000 Brits have been given the first of two Pfizer shots, Boris Johnson has revealed.
But just 10 days ago, Jeremy Hunt warned stocks of the drug – the first to be approved anywhere in the world – were running low, and may not be replenished until March.
