By Harry Shellard
A Coronavirus vaccine has been approved for use in the UK by as early as next week, making Britain the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer vaccine.
A total of 800,000 doses will be rolled out by next week according to health secretary Matt Hancock, as British health regulators say the jab offers up to 95 per cent protection against Covid-19.
The UK has ordered about 40 million vaccines so far, enough to vaccinate 20 million people and more doses will be rolled out as fast as the company can make them.
Vaccinations will be given to those most vulnerable, such as those in care homes and the elderly and then will be rolled out countrywide.
Vaccination centres are being set up in venues such as conference centres and sports stadiums as well as at about 50 hospitals which are on standby.
NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens told BBC News that the National Health Service was preparing for “The largest-scale vaccination campaign in our country’s history.”
This is a huge boost to Leicester, as the city mayor conceded earlier this week that the city could be left in Lockdown for a full year.
This comes after the city found out it will spend at least the first fortnight after the second national lockdown, in the strictest coronavirus restrictions once again.
Leicester city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby was quick to comment on these restrictions.
“At the moment there is little prospect of release before our one-year anniversary.
“We’ve already had two thirds of a year with restrictions in place, it’s hard to see how it won’t go the full year,” he told LeicestershireLive.
The Government is hoping to review the tier system again before Christmas, with many under the strictest of regulations hoping they’re able to gain more freedom in time for the festive period.
With a vaccine becoming regularly available, it is thought that by summertime, Britain might start to be getting back to normal once more.
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