MILLIONS of Brits will get the Covid vaccine THIS MONTH, Matt Hancock said today, as he said life will be back to normal by spring.
Up to 800,000 doses will be on the way into arms from early next week and millions this month, he confirmed today – as the Pfizer vaccine became the first in the world to get the green light.
The jab – which is 95 per cent effective and developed by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German firm BioNTech – is safe for use, health regulators say.
It means the UK is the first country in the world to give a vaccine the green light.
It will be deployed as “quickly as it is manufactured”, the Health Sec said.
The news came as:
- England’s second national lockdown ended today, plunging the nation into harsher restrictions – but opening shops, gyms and leisure centres
- 50 NHS hospitals will be ready to deliver the jab from next week
- Care home residents, NHS staff and the elderly will be among the first to receive drug
- UK has secured 40 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine – enough to vaccinate 20 million people – with 10 million doses due in the UK by the end of the year
- The Nightingale hospitals, along with football clubs, race-courses and tennis courts, will be transformed into mass vaccine centres
- A scientist warned it may take six months to get everyone vaccinated.
Mr Hancock said this morning: “I am absolutely thrilled the UK is the first country in the world to have a clinically authorised vaccine for Covid-19.
“We now know that help is on its way – 2021 is going to be better.”
He told Sky News this morning: “By the spring we’re going to be through this.”
Mr Hancock said the bulk of the rollout will come in the new year, adding: “We haven’t put a finger on the numbers before Christmas.”
He told the BBC: “But what we do know is that we can get started next week with that first load and then several millions will be coming throughout December.
“People will be contacted by the NHS when it’s their turn and I urge you very strongly to come forward because obviously being vaccinated is good for you, it’s approved as clinically safe by the regulator and it’s good for your community as well to help get this virus under control once and for all.
“I’m confident now with the news today that from spring, from Easter onwards, things are going to be better and we’re going to have a summer next year that everybody can enjoy.”
The vaccine requires two doses, 21 days apart, and has to be kept at a very low temperature, restricting some of where it can go immediately.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “Thank you to all those involved in this wonderful news – from the brilliant scientists to the trial volunteers. We must now ensure vaccines are rolled out safely but swiftly across the country.”
Mr Hancock was speaking to the media as he tearfully revealed in the Commons last night he had lost his step-grandad to Covid-19.
In highly emotional scenes in Parliament, the Health Secretary said his own family has been hit by the tragedy of the pandemic.
He paid tribute to his step grandfather Derek, describing him as a “loving husband, father and grandfather”.
Becoming tearful as he closed the Covid debate in the House of Commons, Mr Hancock thanked Brits for knuckling down to defeat the virus.
