‘Real problems’ with Covid this winter, chief medical officer warns

ENGLAND’S CHIEF medical officer has said it would be “foolish” to plan for winter on the basis of having a coronavirus vaccine.

But Professor Chris Whitty told reporters that there was a “reasonable chance” there could be vaccines to the virus before the winter of 2021-2022.

He warned that going into winter there will be “real problems” with Covid-19 and said that the country should plan on the basis of no vaccine being available.

Prof Whitty added: “I would obviously be delighted if it came earlier rather than later, but I’d be quite surprised if we had a highly effective vaccine ready for mass use in a large percentage of the population before the end of winter, certainly before this side of Christmas.

“Now that may be wrong, a lot of people are doing a huge amount scientifically, logistically to make sure that’s a pessimistic statement, to try and see if we can get a vaccine at extraordinarily fast speed, but we have to check it works and we have to make sure it’s safe and these things do take time.

“So I think if we look forward a year, I think the chances are much greater than if we look forward six months and we need to have that sort of timescale in mind.So planning for the next winter, it would be foolish to plan on the basis we will have a vaccine.

“We should plan on the basis we will not have a vaccine and then if one does prove to be effective and safe and available then we’re in a strong position to be able to use it.” Prof Whitty said he was confident in the ability of science to help tackle the virus but it would not be in the next few weeks or months.