Britons could start being vaccinated against coronavirus in the next three weeks, Matt Hancock said today, after hopes were raised by Pfizer’s breakthrough announcement.
Downing Street has ordered 40 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, developed by the pharmaceutical giant and its partner BioNTech, which early trials found to be 90 per cent effective. Oxford University and AstraZeneca are expected to release results of their vaccine shortly.
The Health Secretary today said the military and NHS staff are on standby to roll out a Covid-19 vaccine across the UK from the start of December and will work “seven days a week”. Deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said he was “hopeful” there would be “some vaccine by Christmas”.
It comes as England and Wales recorded its highest number of weekly Covid-19 deaths since the start of June. A total of 1,379 deaths registered in the week ending October 30 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate,
