WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET THE JAB?
In order for the vaccine to work, patients must receive two doses around three weeks apart. Those who meet the criteria for phase one vaccinations will be contacted by post or, if they work in health and social care, by their employer. After the first jab, you will have partial immunity after 12 days, and will feel the vaccine’s full effectiveness seven days after the second dose (i.e. 28 days after first jab). You’ll have to stay at the vaccination site for 15 minutes after an injection via a needle in the arm. GP clinics will be paid £25.16 for each patient. Each dose costs £12.58, which compares with £10.06 for a flu jab.
WHO’LL GIVE THE JAB?
Regular NHS trained, newly-trained staff and volunteers for administrative tasks.
The Scottish Government has pledged to have 160 vaccinators in place by Tuesday and 2,000 by the end of January.
WILL IT GRANT IMMUNITY?
Analysis shows the jab can prevent 95% of people from getting Covid-19, including 94% in older age groups. Immunity is expected to last at least six months and possibly longer.
SIDE EFFECTS?
The Pfizer vaccine has been tested on 43,500 people in six countries and no safety concerns were raised. Some trial volunteers experienced sore arms, fever and muscle ache, but nothing more serious. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency is monitoring for anything more dangerous.
SOCIAL DISTANCING?
Dr David Nabarro, the World Health Organisation’s special envoy for Covid-19, says the vaccine is ‘an extra control element’, adding: ‘It’s not going to replace the other measures for a number of months, even perhaps a year, so we’ll have to keep doing physical distancing, hygiene, mask-wearing and isolating when we’re sick.’
THE COST?
Ministers have not said how much the vaccine has cost in total but the US government ordered 100 million doses from Pfizer for $1.95 billion (£1.4billion). For those administering it such as GPs, dentists, optometrists and pharmacists, a flat rate of £12.58 will be paid to them per dose totalling £25.16 per course. This is compared with £10.06 for a flu jab.
HOW IS IT STORED?
The vaccine must be stored at a super-cold
70C (-94F) to ensure it does not break down before it gets to patients. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has confirmed the vaccine can be transported in an unfrozen state for up to 12 hours. It can also be broken down into smaller pack sizes and stored undiluted for up to five days, meaning it can be taken into care homes without losing efficacy during transportation.
IS IT AVAILABLE PRIVATELY?
No. Pfizer is providing their vaccine ‘not-forprofit’ and only supplying governments ‘during the initial pandemic stage’.
VACCINE PASSPORTS
There are no plans for an official ‘vaccine passport’ that would give inoculated people access to places such as pubs and restaurants. However, UK Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi is ‘looking at the technology’ and has hinted that some venues won’t allow people in without immunisation confirmation.