HOW DO YOU GET A JAB?
You’ll be contacted and asked to book an appointment under a ‘call and recall system’. This is possible because central NHS computers have access to the population’s personal information – such as our name, age, address and phone number. The ‘call’ is to invite you to arrange an appointment for the first jab of two necessary doses; the ‘recall’ is for the booster 21 days later. Jabs are via needle in the upper arm. Partial immunity is estimated after 12 days, with full effectiveness seven days after the second dose – (i.e. 28 days after first jab). You’ll be asked to stay at the vaccine site for 15 minutes after the jab in case of a bad reaction. Vaccine staff will be working on Christmas Day. England’s 6,800 GP practices are organising into around 1,000 ‘networks’, and will choose one dedicated surgery to act as a vaccination centre.
WHO'LL GIVE THE JAB?
Regular NHS staff, newly-trained recruits and volunteers such as the St John Ambulance.
WILL IT GRANT IMMUNITY FROM COVID-19?
Analysis shows the jab can prevent 95 per cent of people from getting Covid-19, including 94 per cent in older age groups. Immunity is expected to last at least six months and possibly much 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.
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, but the US government ordered 100 million doses from Pfizer for $1.95 billion. That suggests about £30 for the two shots required per person. The Oxford vaccine is likely to cost £2.23 a dose, or £4.46 for the two-dose course needed.
HIOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO BE VACCINATED TO LIFT RESTRICTIONS?
Health Secretary Matt Hancock concedes that while the vaccine protects an individual, it’s unclear what impact it has on reducing transmission. He’s said that as ‘more and more vulnerable people are vaccinated, we hope to see those rates come down and therefore we will be able to lift the restrictions.’
IS IT AVAILABLE PRIVATELY? WILL SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASKS STILL BE NEEDED?
No. Pfizer is only supplying governments ‘during the initial pandemic stage’.
VACCINE PASSPORTS
Despite no plans for official ‘immunity passports’ – which could give people who have been inoculated, and thus virus-free, easier access to places such as pubs and restaurants – Ministers admit discussing their possible use.