Oxford Covid vaccine is our vital escape route to get out of lockdown

Covid vaccine is the best of British

A BREXIT trade deal has been delivered . . . now for the British Covid vaccine.

While the Pfizer jab has given the nation a shot of optimism there is no doubt that the Oxford vaccine will put us into a ­different league altogether.

Since it is made here and can be stored at normal fridge temperatures, delivering and administering the 100million jabs on order will be much easier.

So to hear Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi say it has “paid off” just hours before it is due to get the green light is music to our ears.

He is right to say this “truly UK wide effort showcases what a fantastic nation we are”.

There is no doubt the Oxford jab represents the very best of British scientific genius.

But the boffins have relied on the skills of people right across the UK to get it from “lab to jab” in record time.

All the exceptional manufacturers, researchers and engineers from England, Wales and Scotland have pulled out all the stops.

Volunteers from every corner of the country have signed up in droves for vital clinical trials.

While the country faces more miserable weeks in lockdown the roll-out of this vaccine is our vital escape route.

And British ingenuity has forged the key.

Beware the T&Seas

THE fishing lobby has blasted the EU trade deal as a “sell out”.

It is true that Boris Johnson has ­compromised by agreeing to a five-and-a-half year transition period before the UK regains all its extra catch.

The anger is focused on the fact that under the deal, the UK and the EU will review all the terms in four years, before the end of the transition on fishing.

Eurocrats could use this to try to dilute the fishing agreement and block the UK from ever fully regaining its new rights.

Boris must understand fears that the fishing fleets will be betrayed again.

His £100million new investment in the industry is a good start.

MBE lion on a shirt

IT is shameful that football legend Jimmy Greaves has never been recognised by the British honours system.

The prolific goal scorer has been one of only two members of England’s 1966 World Cup winners to be denied a gong.

So it is fantastic that the 80-year-old is finally to pick up an MBE in the New Year’s list, alongside his England team mate Ron Flowers.

But it is a funny old game when you have to wait this long to be recognised.