Oxford vaccine: More at-risk people will get jab faster in new strategy Robert Dex
Experts have agreed a new coronavirus vaccination strategy that will see at-risk people treated more quickly.
The scientists, who advise the Government on vaccination, said the focus should be on giving at-risk people the first dose of whichever vaccine they receive, rather than providing the required two doses in as short a time as possible.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said everyone who receives the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccines will still receive their second dose within 12 weeks of the first.
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Millions more are in tier 4 and schools face a delayed return – but tougher action is needed to seize the opportunity offered by the new vaccine
A member of staff wearing PPE takes a child’s temperature at a school in London. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
A member of staff wearing PPE takes a child’s temperature at a school in London. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Wed 30 Dec 2020 13.58 EST
Last modified on Thu 31 Dec 2020 03.27 EST
The contrast between the good news and the bleak could not have been starker. The UK’s approval of the low-cost, highly efficacious Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine represents a shining moment of hope. Never has it been more needed.
Matt Hancock reveals Britain will only have 530,000 doses of Oxford s Covid jab next week despite promises of 4million by Jan 1 - as it is approved for use amid hopes UK could inoculate 24m by Easter
In May, officials suggested 30million doses would be ready by end of year and last month they said 4million
But UK ordered 100million doses in total and AstraZeneca promised to deliver 2million a week by mid-January
Ministers now face mammoth challenge of trying to rapidly ramp up vaccination capacity in coming weeks