Great Britain Covid Vaccine | NHS England in talks on launching a possible COVID-19 vaccine from December: Report

The National Health Service (NHS) is in talks with the British Medical Association (BMA) and others to mobilize the launch of a possible COVID-19 vaccine from December, the Pulse website for health professionals reported Thursday.

There is optimism around the first cohorts to receive a vaccine in December, but there is a 50/50 chance the vaccine will be available by then, Pulse reported, citing a person close to the discussions.

Discussions are underway between NHS England, the BMA and other groups about who will administer the vaccines and who will get them first, Pulse reported, citing multiple sources.

The government had proposed in August to allow more health workers to administer vaccines.

There is a debate about whether the first people to be vaccinated will be home patients and their staff, or health professionals, including general practitioners.

NHS England, BMA and the Department of Health and Social Care did not immediately respond when contacted by Reuters on Thursday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that there were some hopeful signs that a COVID-19 vaccine would be obtained, but that the country must be realistic because it cannot be taken for granted.