PM: We cannot rely on vaccine
BORIS JOHNSON has urged the public to stick to Covid-19 rules despite pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announcing it has made a coronavirus vaccine breakthrough.
The Prime Minister said the Pfizer vaccine news was a sign the “scientific cavalry” was on its way, but stressed it was “very, very early days”.
He told a Downing Street press conference that the vaccine had cleared a “significant hurdle” but there were more to cross before it could be used.
He said: “The Pfizer/biontech Vaccine has been tested on over 40,000 volunteers and interim results suggest it is proving 90% effective at protecting people against the virus. But we haven’t yet seen the full safety data, and these findings also need to be peer-reviewed.
“So we have cleared one significant hurdle but there are several more to go before we know the vaccine can be used.”
The UK Government has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine – enough for about a third of the UK population.
“If the Pfizer vaccine passes all the rigorous safety checks and is proven to be effec
tive then we will begin a Uk-wide NHS led programme of vaccine distribution,” the Prime Minister said.
But he added: “We have talked for a long time, or I have, about the distant bugle of the scientific cavalry coming over the brow of the hill.
“And tonight that toot of the bugle is louder, but it is still some way off. We absolutely cannot rely on this as a solution.
“The biggest mistake we could make now would be to slacken our resolve at such a critical moment.”
The Prime Minister said the reproductive rate of the virus – the R value – was still above 1 and death numbers were rising.
“Irrespective of whether there is a vaccine on the way or not we must continue to do everything possible right now to bring the R down,” he said.
Earlier, Pfizer and its vaccine partner Biontech said interim data showed their jab was more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19 infection.
Scientists around the globe welcomed the news, with many saying it was a significant breakthrough in the fight against Covid-19.
Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases and global health at the University of Oxford, said: “This news made me smile from ear to ear.”
England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said the findings demonstrated “the power of science against Covid”, adding: “We must see the final safety and efficacy data, but it is very encouraging.
“It is essential we continue to suppress Covid but it is a reason for optimism for 2021.”