A coronavirus vaccine has arrived in UK hospitals to be used for the first time in the battle against the virus in the country – as health officials say many of the most vulnerable will not receive the immunisation until 2021.
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said the distribution of the vaccine would be a “marathon not a sprint”, while Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said people need to “hang fire” and be assured they have not been forgotten if they have not received a letter or a phone call about the jab.
“I don’t think people should expect anything over the next few days” Mr Hopson said, “because the reality is, as I said, that for the vast, vast, vast majority of people this will be done in January, February, March.
“And the one thing that we don’t want people to get anxious about or concerned about is ‘Where’s my letter?’ in December.”
– Mercer to take part in vaccine trial
Veterans minister and Plymouth MP Johnny Mercer tweeted: “Huge news this morning that Plymouth is to be one of the first places in the UK to start rolling out the vaccine for Covid.”
He added: “I’ll be taking part in a phase 3 clinical trial there on Thursday. If you think any of my behaviour is odd, do let me know.”
It is currently unclear which trial he is referring to.
