BRITAIN has a “50/50 likelihood” of turning into the primary nation on the earth to approve a Covid vaccine — with a choice anticipated as early as subsequent week.
NHS staff will likely be first within the queue for the jab beneath plans being finalised by well being bosses.
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NHS employees will likely be first within the queue for the jab beneath plans being finalised by well being bossesCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation
Frontline staff at the moment are anticipated to be immunised forward of care home residents and different susceptible older Brits.
High-risk under-65s may even transfer up the pecking order.
Ministers are additionally primed to launch a nationwide marketing campaign throughout TV and radio highlighting the benefits of vaccination as early as subsequent week.
Closing security information for the Pfizer jab, which presents 95 per cent safety, was given to regulators on Monday.
And officers are quietly assured the UK can pip the US and EU into getting the life-saving vaccine first.
A Government supply mentioned it’s “very possible” Pfizer would be the earliest vaccine licensed.
The supply mentioned: “It’s trying fairly shut and we may get a choice as early as subsequent week.
“If that’s the case there’s a 50/50 likelihood we could possibly be the primary nation on the earth to app-rove a vaccine for roll out.”
Nevertheless, the Pfizer jab must be saved at -70C and may solely be thawed in batches of 1,000 earlier than immunisation — a logistical nightmare for the NHS.
It means it’s unlikely for use to deal with care house residents — at present prime of the provisional precedence listing — as docs can’t vaccinate on the essential scale.
As a substitute, well being bosses wish to roll it out from 53 hospital hubs to immunise frontline NHS employees first.
A well being supply mentioned: “Well being staff are a captive viewers so it is going to be a lot faster to get jabs in arms proper from day one.”
They’re playing the Oxford-developed AstraZeneca jab, which might be saved in a traditional fridge, will likely be accredited simply days later.
Officers count on it should type the spine of mass group immunisation, with 19million doses obtainable by the tip of the 12 months.
NHS boss Sir Simon Stevens has mentioned the service is “ten out of ten” able to roll out the “largest vaccination marketing campaign in our historical past”.
NHS boss Sir Simon Stevens mentioned the ‘largest vaccination marketing campaign in our historical past’ is able to roll outCredit score: Alamy Reside Information
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