Matt Hancock says vaccine will release Covid levels by end of March

The fast-track approval of the coronavirus vaccine means restrictions could be relaxed before the end of March, the health secretary said.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Matt Hancock said he “looks forward to removing this tiered system completely” and the country “coming back to life through mutual respect and personal responsibility, not by set laws. in Parliament “.

It marks a change in rhetoric and tone from Mr Hancock, who until now has been seen in Whitehall as one of the strongest supporters of the strictest measures possible.

Asked whether the start of administration of the vaccine to the British this week could lead to an earlier end of restrictions in the first three months of next year, Mr Hancock replied: ‘Yes, it will be. the case”.

He later said: “There is no doubt that getting vaccinated early … will bring the time when we can get rid of these crushed restrictions, but until then we have to follow them. is on its way. “

Mr Hancock also said he was looking for “absolutely wonderful 90s … to get vaccinated”. He declined to say if he was thinking of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, both aged 90.

The first vaccinations were dispatched to 50 sites across the UK over the weekend ahead of the first inoculation Tuesday in all four UK countries, on what Mr Hancock is calling “V Day”.

The Health Secretary said millions of doses of Pfizer’s vaccine would be in the UK before the end of the year, while a second vaccine from the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca could get the UK regulator approval before Christmas.

The government now plans to vaccinate more than half of vulnerable people who need a shot by the end of February, which could lead to a relaxation of Covid rules when they are renewed by MPs before January 27.

The mass immunization program will also see a large-scale government advertising campaign, led by celebrities and other trusted voices, launched ahead of Christmas, Mr Hancock said.

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Nightingale hospitals will be converted into vaccination centers, along with sports stadiums and conference centers, while general practitioner offices can start giving injections next week.

Mr Hancock warned scientists still did not know if someone who had been vaccinated could still transmit the virus. This meant that “the elbow salute could be there for a while,” he said.

The Cabinet Office will also reuse its fake news unit – created in the middle of last year to counter online fears of a no-deal Brexit – to tackle anti-vaxxer propaganda on the internet.

The news came as the United Kingdom recorded 397 more deaths from the coronavirus on Saturday, down from the 504 deaths announced on Friday.

Pfizer expects to have up to four million doses ready for the UK by the end of the year and 40 million by the end of March – enough to vaccinate 20 million people. Britain has also ordered 100 million doses of Astra Zeneca’s vaccine, including 40 million delivered in March, although it has not been cleared by the Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency.

Mr Hancock said he could not make precise predictions on when people might be vaccinated due to the uncertainty of MHRA approval of AstraZeneca’s vaccine and how quickly it ci and the drug from Pfizer can be manufactured.

He said: “The majority of vaccination [of the vulnerable] will take place in January and February, and the extent of that depends on Pfizer’s manufacturing facilities, MHRA approval of AstraZeneca, and AstraZeneca’s manufacturing capabilities.

“The speed at which we vaccinate is obviously determined by the speed at which the manufacturer can produce it. I have given the NHS the simple mission of vaccinating as quickly as the manufacturers can produce.”

He added: “We will continue to monitor what is happening with the epidemic. But the more you vaccinate, the more lives you save and fewer people die, the sooner you can lift the restrictions – it’s that simple.

People aged 80 and over, as well as home care workers, will be the first to receive the vaccine – usually given as an injection into the shoulder – with NHS workers at greater risk.

Hospitals will begin to invite those over 80 to participate in a jab and work with home care providers to book their staff for immunization clinics. All vaccinated will need a booster 21 days later.

But there is still no guaranteed date for vaccinating nursing home residents, despite being high on the priority list, with Mr Hancock saying there are “significant challenges”.

Logistical issues mean it is difficult to get the vaccine to residents, as Pfizer vaccine must be stored at -70 ° C before being thawed and can only be moved four times in this cold chain before being released. to be used.

Mark Harper, the chairman of the Coronavirus Recovery Group of about 70 Tory MPs who campaigns against strict lockdown restrictions without proof of the economic and social damage they cause, said the government should not wait for all groups to be vaccinated before relaxing the restrictions.

He told The Telegraph: “As the vaccine is rolled out and the most vulnerable are protected, the government should begin our national renewal by reducing crippling restrictions on our economy and society.

Given the enormous costs of these restrictions, both in terms of individual lives and livelihoods, the faster and safer it can be done is crucial as we seek to restore the physical and economic health of our country. . If we have vaccinated those most vulnerable to Covid by then, why wait until Easter? “

An ally of Mr. Harper said: “If we wait until every 20 or 30 years has received a vaccine before removing the restrictions, our economy might look like a Soviet relic. Boris needs to channel his optimism into this country’s next chapter as soon as possible. as possible. ”