BORIS Johnson will give a No10 press conference tonight hailing the huge news that the Oxford vaccine can stop transmission of Covid by up to two-thirds.
The PM will address the nation at 5pm today and reveal the latest vaccination statistics as the rollout continues across the country – ahead of his clap for Captain Sir Tom Moore and NHS staff tonight.
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More than 10 million vaccines have been given out so far.
And now scientists at Oxford University have revealed Britain’s jabs rollout could have already begun to stop the virus spreading.
They found there was a 67 per cent drop in positive swabs among those already vaccinated.
It means those given the jab are not only less likely to get severe disease or die, but also have some protection against catching the virus and passing it on to others.
Welcoming the news the Oxford jab may slash the spread of the virus, a senior Tory Minister told Trending In The News: “This is the news we have all been waiting for.
“At last. If this data is correct today will be seen as the turning point in this whole pandemic.”
The PM is also expected to pay tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore, who died aged 100 last night after suffering with pneumonia and then catching covid.
The legendary fundraiser raked in millions of pounds for charity last year during the pandemic by doing laps of his garden in his zimmer frame – and became a symbol of hope for people across the world.
The PM today called on the nation to clap for Captain Sir Tom tonight to honour him.
It comes as:
- A single dose of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine has been found to slash Covid transmission
- The experts also revealed just one jab gives 76 per cent protection for three months – supporting the one jab policy of the Government
- All adults in UK are on track to have both Covid vaccine jabs by end of August, it was claimed
- Trending In The News revealed earlier this week that more adults being allowed to meet outdoors could be on the cards when restrictions begin to lift
Earlier today Secretary Priti Patel said she was “concerned” over the lack of vaccine uptake by minority communities.
She pleaded with ethnic groups across the nation to “please take the vaccine” on a visit to the UK’s largest Hindu temple in Neasden north west London.
The Temple has opened up it’s nearby school buildings this week to so locals can get the miracle jab.
They managed to inoculate 700 people on Tuesday – the first day that they were open.
She said: “I’m here today at the Neasden Temple because the Temple have used their school buildings to set up a vaccination site, hear in Neasden, in Brent to really get that message out to the local community and to ethnic groups, different ethnic groups around here, but also around the country – please take the vaccine.
“I am concerned, we are all concerned, as we’re hearing messages of misinformation, disinformation associated with the vaccine, and I’ve had the complete privilege today to see people locally come in at this vaccine centre to be vaccinated.
“I’ve met the heroic workers the people on the front line, members of the NHS, members of the army but also volunteers from this temple as well, that are bringing people in to get vaccinated.
She added: “My message is really, really clear. “Take the vaccine, once it gets offered to you. Please take it, it can save your life and it’ll save the lives of others.”
ROADMAP TO FREEDOM
Boris Johnson is due to reveal its “phased” route out of lockdown in the week beginning February 22 with schools set to start reopening on March 8.
A Whitehall source told The Telegraph: “These findings are exactly what we need.
“It’s looking good for schools returning in March, shops reopening in April.”
Another senior Government source said: “We hope it will be safe to commence the reopening of schools from March 8, with other economic and social restrictions being removed thereafter as and when the data permit.”
Matt Hancock this morning hailed the results of the Oxford studies into the vaccine – but said it was still too early to lift any lockdown rules yet as there are still 30,000 people in hospital with the virus.
He said it was right that schools continue to stay shut – even as Scotland said they would start to open theirs up in the next few weeks, with staggered starts for pupils.
He also still couldn’t say when the proposed hotel quarantine plan would start in the UK – amid reports it might not be for another fortnight.
Mr Hancock said he was in favour of strengthening the current border controls to make sure that new variants of the virus don’t get in and spread in the community.
