Over-50s to be given priority over vaccines
MAJOR SHIFT IN PHONE APP DEVELOPMENT
PEOPLE aged over 50 will be given priority if and when a vaccine is developed.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed that the jab being worked on at Oxford University was already in production to allow immunisation to begin straight away if was deemed successful and safe. He said those with heart and kidney disease would also be prioritised. Ministers would continue to take into account those who are most vulnerable, including those from BAME backgrounds.
Mr Hancock also discussed a major shift in the development of the mobile phone app to work as part of the Test and Trace system to isolate cases.
He defended the decision to abandon developing the NHSX app in favour of joining forces with Apple and Google.
At the Downing Street press conference, he said testing on the Isle of Wight uncovered a technical barrier.
He said: “We found that our app works well on Android devices but Apple software prevents iPhones being used effectively for contact tracing unless you are using Apple’s own technology.”
He said that the NHSX app was better at measuring distance than the Google/Apple model.
He said: “As it stands, our app won’t work because Apple won’t change their system, but it can measure distance. And their app can’t measure distance well enough to a standard that we are satisfied with.”
He added: “We have agreed to join forces with Google and Apple to bring the best bits of both systems together.
“We will share our algorithm and the work that we have done on distance calculation and combine that with their work to deliver a new solution.”
Mr Hancock said it would ‘bring together some of the best minds to find a solution to this global challenge.’
He also said he could not say when the contact tracing app would be ready
for roll-out. He said: “We’re working on it. We’re not going to put a date on it I’m afraid because I’m absolutely determined that, whilst this technology can help, it’s got to be working effectively.”
NHS Test and Trace programme chief, Baroness Harding, said none of the apps were reliable enough to work.
Data showed that more than one in four people who test positive could not be reached by the test and trace system in England. Between June 4 and June 10, 4,366 were reached and asked to provide details of people they had been in close contact with recently.