The Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, shown to be approximately 95% effective, according to the Phase 3 trials, has now been approved in the United Kingdom! The first people will be vaccinated already next week. The MHRA, Britain’s regulator, said that the vaccine is ready to use and the first 800,000 out of 40 million doses will arrive in the UK within days.
Mass Vaccination Program That Is The Biggest In UK’s History
The UK will begin a mass vaccination program that has never been seen in Britain before. The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) has already back in September created a preliminary list on who will be prioritized in getting vaccinated.
They said that an age-based program is likely to improve the delivery speed and “better uptake of those at the highest risk”.
The provisional list they have compiled is as follows,
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Older adults resident in a care home and care home workers
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All those 80 years of age and over and health and social care workers
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All those 75 years of age and over
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All those 70 years of age and over
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All those 65 years of age and over
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High-risk adults under 65 years of age
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Moderate-risk adults under 65 years of age
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All those 60 years of age and over
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All those 55 years of age and over
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All those 50 years of age and over
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Rest of the population (priority to be determined)
However, this was not a firm position as the committee added that based on the lack of a complete picture back at the beginning of the fall, the priority groups could not be fully decided. Thus, although we can expect some slight changes, the age-based system is what is likely to follow. The reason behind the age-based Covid-19 vaccination was that due to the available data, it was clear that in the UK, people at the highest risk are those above 50, with the risk increasing significantly once the person turned 70.
What Can We Expect Apart From The Age-Based System?
Apart from the age-based system, the committee has also outlined a priority list for those with underlying conditions that may put them at a higher risk of complications or mortality. This list reads as follows,
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solid organ transplant recipients
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hematological cancers
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certain neurological conditions
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chronic kidney disease
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immunosuppression
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dementia
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stroke
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poorly controlled diabetes
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chronic pulmonary disease
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obesity (BMI greater than 40)
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malignancy
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liver disease
British regulator, the MHRA, says the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19 illness, is safe for rollout next week.
The Reaction To One Of The Fastest Vaccines To Be Approved
The vaccine is being welcomed with huge enthusiasm, being one of the fastest vaccines to ever have been approved. The researchers, startups, universities, biotechnological companies, and big pharma giants have all mobilized the forces to find an effective cure for Covid-19. Developing an effective Covid-19 vaccine in a span of 10 months is practically unheard of.
Boris Johnson Calling The News “Fantastic”
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, has commented on the Covid-19 vaccine news via his personal Twitter account. He called the news “fantastic” and confirmed that the vaccine will be available from next week. He added,
“It’s the protection of vaccines that will ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives and get the economy moving again.”
Matt Hammock Says People Will Be Able To Enjoy Next Summer
Similarly, the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has given a very positive reaction to the news. He said, “ I’m confident now with the news today that from spring, from Easter onwards, things are going to be better and we’re going to have a summer next year that everybody can enjoy.”
While the logistics with vaccinating people are still to be fine-tuned, according to the preliminary news from Hancock, people will be contacted by the NHS when their turn to be vaccinated comes. Hundreds of vaccination centers are set up in different venues to facilitate the process.
And what about the other vaccines? Both Moderna and AstraZeneca are filling for the emergency approval in the US and UK both and Moderna is likely to receive the UK approval soon. That would mean that there is another 95% effective Covid-19 jabb that can be distributed at the end of this year or early next year.
