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The government plans to train an army of health care professionals to be ready to give the vaccine against the coronavirus, if and when one is screened.
This may include pharmacists, who already provide flu vaccines, obstetricians and physiotherapists.
The proposals come amid fears that, if a safe and effective vaccine became available now, there would not be enough people to manage it.
But a vaccine is not expected to be ready for Christmas.
Although the chances of having a vaccine this year are considered small, preparations are being made so that when one is ready, it can be given very quickly to a large number of people.
Proposals, which are being considered in a three-week consultation, are designed to cut desktop costs and prevent delays between a vaccine being found and then given to the UK population.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said this could train a wider range of existing NHS staff, including student doctors and nurses.
It may also involve training other professionals, including dentists and veterinarians.
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All healthcare professionals will undergo training and guidance.
There are also plans to strengthen the powers of the Regulatory Agency (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) (MHRA) to roll out an unlicensed vaccine as soon as it becomes available for the new year.
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The United Kingdom will remain under the jurisdiction of the European Medicines Agency and its licensing regime until the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020.
Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, Deputy Medical Officer, said: “If we are to develop effective vaccines, it is important that we make them available to patients as soon as possible, but only if strict safety standards are met.
“The consultation consulted today suggests ways to improve access and ensure that as many people as possible are protected against Covid-19 and influenza as far as possible without sacrificing the absolute need to ensure that every vaccine used is both safe and effective. , “he said.
In addition, the consultation – which seeks to amend the Human Medicine Regulations 2012 – will seek ways to protect companies that produce and distribute the vaccine, if it causes harm.
This is to prevent them from bearing the risk posed by decisions made by government to roll out unlicensed faxes, in order to protect the health of the public.
