Table of Contents
A COVID vaccine may very well be simply “weeks away” from being rolled out to public, the Authorities has mentioned.
Matt Hancock revealed Britain is planning a mass coronavirus vaccination programme that might begin in early December – with the well being secretary as a consequence of give an replace from Downing Road this night (Friday, November 20, 2020).
⚠️ Learn our coronavirus live blog for the newest information & updates
Mr Hancock is anticipated to handle the nation at 5pm this night (November 20, 2020)Credit score: Getty – Pool
What time is Matt Hancock’s press convention right this moment?
Mr Hancock is anticipated to handle the nation at 5pm this night (November 20, 2020).
It’s unclear who else will be a part of Mr Hancock for the newest Downing Road convention.
What’s he anticipated to announce?
The Well being Secretary revealed this morning the essential storage amenities for the Pfizer vaccine – which have to be stored at a freezing minus 70 levels – had been already in place.
It means the Authorities is hopeful {that a} jab may very well be simply weeks away.
Mr Hancock is anticipated to be quizzed on hopes for Christmas, as he lifted Brits’ spirits by saying ministers had been working to provide folks some festive pleasure.
He appeared to rule out hugging family and mates at Christmas, as he mentioned there are “promising indicators” the present lockdown in England is working.
The Well being Secretary mentioned guidelines will nonetheless should be in place over the festive interval, with folks observing social distancing as households come collectively.
Talking on Instances Radio, Mr Hancock mentioned discussions with the devolved nations are persevering with with the goal of reaching settlement on how households can have a good time the festive interval.
He mentioned there’s a must “respect the truth that we mustn’t unfold the virus additional but in addition respect the truth that Christmas is a particular time the place folks get collectively, particularly with their households”.
Pfizer vaccine goes into manufacturing in Germany after proving to be over 90 per cent efficient in opposition to coronavirusCredit score: Biontech
When will a Covid-19 vaccine be out there within the UK?
Pfizer, Moderna and Britain’s personal Astrazeneca are all within the race to ship a Covid-19 vaccine – they usually all exhibiting promising outcomes.
Greater than 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine have already been manufactured, the boss of the pharma large Albert Bourla mentioned yesterday.
Chatting with Sky Information this morning Friday, November 20, 2020) Mr Hancock mentioned: “We hope there may be going to be a program of Covid vaccinations.
“We do not know for positive but, nevertheless we now have seen more and more excellent news on the Covid vaccine entrance during the last two weeks.”
He added that if one of many jabs is licensed the mass roll out will probably come within the new 12 months, with a small quantity probably out there for Christmas.
Mr Hancock beforehand mentioned that the vaccine programme will start at the beginning of December – if it gets the green safety light.
It’ll begin with NHS employees, the susceptible and the elderly, and make its way down through the age groups after that.
The Well being Secretary additionally introduced an enormous free flu vaccination program for anyone over aged over 50 to start on December 1.
And anybody aged 50 or underneath could receive the vaccine by January 1, 2021.
He urged folks to get vaccinated this winter, saying “in the event you get each flu and Covid that’s actually dangerous information”.
How can I watch the speech reside?
You possibly can catch press briefings reside on The Solar’s YouTube channel.
Our live coronavirus blog will even be following the speech in actual time from 5pm.
Most information channels and the BBC will even air the announcement reside.
