Thousands more Islanders will now be vaccinated against COVID-19 and much quicker too, thanks to the approval of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
The Government has today (Wednesday) accepted the recommendation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to authorise Oxford University/AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine for use on the UK.
The most vulnerable will receive the vaccine first and this will be done much quicker than previously laid out.
Having studied evidence on both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccines, the decision has been taken by the Government to give as many people in at-risk groups their first dose now, rather than providing the required 2 doses in as short a time as possible.
Everyone will still receive their second dose and this will be within 12 weeks of their first. The second dose completes the course and is important for longer term protection.
From today, the NHS across the UK will prioritise giving the first dose of the vaccine to those in the most high-risk groups. With 2 vaccines now approved, the NHS will be able to vaccinate a greater number of people who are at highest risk, protecting them from the disease and reducing mortality and hospitalisation.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock says he is confident we can be out of the pandemic ‘by the spring’.
