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UK becomes first country in world to approve coronavirus vaccine


By Chris Saunderson

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THE UK has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for widespread use against coronavirus.

Immunisations could begin next week for people in high priority groups

with 800,000 doses available, but the majority of the vaccines will be available in the the New Year.

The most vulnerable will be the first to be vaccinated.
The most vulnerable will be the first to be vaccinated.

Dr June Raine, chief executive of British regulator the MHRA, says the regulator's recommendation to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for use has been reached following "an extremely thorough and scientifically rigorous review of all the evidence of safety of effectiveness and if quality" of the vaccine.

People in care homes and over 80 will be the highest priority for the first vaccinations.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has decided that care home workers and health and social care staff are also a priority, because they could transmit the virus to vulnerable patients.

The vaccination will then be rolled out to people by age, from the oldest to the youngest.

This could be through your GP surgery, a hospital or care home if you work there, or through vaccination hubs which are being set up around the country.

Moray MP Douglas Ross has welcomed news

The UK Government secured 40million doses of this particular vaccine - enough to inoculate 20million people. Tens of millions of doses of other The Army is likely to be drafted in to help with the logistics of a mass roll-out in Scotland.

Mr Ross said: “This is fantastic news that I am sure will be welcomed by all.

“The UK is the first country in the world to get regulatory approval for a Coronavirus vaccine - and thanks to the effort of the British government, we will have access to 40million doses.

“The NHS can start the huge task of mass vaccinations next week, with people in high priority groups at the front of the queue.

“Of course; the availability of the vaccine, while very welcome, does not mean that we can let up our guard. It will take time to roll this out, and we must all remain vigilant in the weeks and months ahead.

“But this is the light at the end of the tunnel that we have all been waiting for and the news that will allow us to return to a form of normality here in Moray and across the country.”

The Scottish Government has previously said that health and social care workers, older care home residents and the over 80s will be first to be vaccinated.

Once these initial priority groups have been vaccinated, those over 65 will be offered the vaccination along with those under 65 who are at additional clinical risk, before moving on to the wider population over the age of 18.

An agreement has also been reached with the British Medical Association on the terms and conditions of GPs’ involvement in the programme.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I want to be clear that safety is paramount in our approach to the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

“The global scientific, research and pharmaceutical community has come together and worked as never before. That is why we are seeing the front running vaccines delivered in months rather than years, but it is not at the expense of safety."



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