Ross welcomes green light for Oxford/Astra-Zeneca vaccine as Covid infection rates soar
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MORAY MP Douglas Ross has welcomed the approval of the Oxford/Astra-Zeneca vaccine for use to combat Covid-19.
MORAY MP Douglas Ross has welcomed the approval of the Oxford/Astra-Zeneca vaccine for use to combat Covid-19.
The UK Government, which has ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine, enough to vaccinate 50million people, gave the green light earlier last Wednesday.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock highlighted that this will cover the entire UK population when combined with the full order of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.
News of the vaccine's approval was warmly welcomed by Mr Ross.
He said: “This is more good news in the fight to contain coronavirus and get our country back to normality.
“The timing of this approval could not be better, given the sharp rise in cases we have seen across the country in the last week.
“Figures released on Tuesday showed an alarming increase in many parts of the country, including in the NHS Grampian health board area.
“The UK government has ordered enough doses of this vaccine to ensure that the entire population can be vaccinated.
“In tandem with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine that is already being rolled out, this can help us get to grips with the virus.
“Ensuring everyone is covered will require a huge logistical effort from our NHS and both our governments. But ultimately, along with mass testing, this is the only way we can get back to normality and see an end to the restrictions on our day-to-day lives here in Moray and across the country."
The Oxford/Astra-Zeneca virus was designed in the early part of 2020, tested on the first volunteer in April and has since been through large scale clinical trials involving thousands of people. It is the second vaccine to be approved by the regulators after the Pfizer-BioNTech was given the go-ahead for use in December.
While both vaccines require two shots for maximum efficacy, the Oxford/Astra-Zeneca version does not have to be stored at very low temperatures.
