A SHOT AT FREEDOM
OK for Oxford vaccine is seen as best chance of easing restrictions February target for opening up UK.. but only if millions vaccinated
LOCKDOWNS could end as soon as February if the Oxford vaccine gets the nod from regulators within days.
Up to 15 million people who are most at risk of dying or getting seriously ill with coronavirus have reportedly been identified for urgent inoculation in the coming weeks.
The new jab is easier to distribute than the existing Pfizer vaccine and could reach millions a week once approved.
Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said ministers “should be moving heaven and earth” to ensure it goes to plan.
THE race is on to inoculate millions of the most vulnerable as the Oxford vaccine awaits imminent approval.
AstraZeneca, which is producing it, suggested regulators could give it the nod within days – with the first jabs as soon as next week.
Boss Pascal Soriot said: “We think we have figured out the winning formula and how to get efficacy that, after two doses, is up there with everybody else.”
Between 12 and 15 million people reportedly identified by the Government as being most at risk from Covid-19 could all be vaccinated by the end of February, some officials say.
Once this happens the NHS would be less at risk of being overwhelmed by cases, which could lead to a relaxation of restrictions within months.
Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth welcomed the signs of hope but urged ministers to do all they can to ensure the rollout goes to plan. He said: “With the virus spreading with greater speed thanks to the new variant, it’s fiercely urgent vaccination is rolled out as quickly as possible. This is a race against time and ministers should be moving heaven and earth to get people the jabs.”
Once the vaccine is approved it can be rolled out to millions of people a week.
It is easier to distribute than the existing Pfizer one, which must be stored at -70C, and of which over 600,000 doses were administered by Christmas Eve.
The Oxford jab can be safely stored in a refrigerator, and is cheaper at £3 a dose, compared with £25 for the Pfizer. There are no signs of any concern over its safety from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. It said: “Any y vaccine must undergo robust clinical trials in line with international standards, and no vaccine would be authorised for supply in the UK unless the expected standards of f safety, quality and efficacy are met.” ”
A Government spokesman said: “The medicines regulator is reviewing the final data from the University of Oxford/ AstraZeneca phase three clinical trials.”
It came as 30,501 new coronavirus
cases were reported in England and Wales yesterday, and 316 deaths. Scotland and Northern Ireland have paused their reporting of figures over Christmas.
The Oxford jab can be quickly made and distributed at vast scale, with AstraZeneca able to produce three billion doses next year. Trials showed an efficacy rate of 90% when patients got half a dose, followed by a full dose at least a month later. When two full doses were given, the rate was lower, just 62% – meaning the overall efficacy was 70%. The US vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna were shown to be around 95% effective.
Cases of the new Covid-19 variant, first identified in the UK, have now been confirmed across Europe, as well as in Australia, Japan and Lebanon, and now in Canada and Jordan.