The first batch of the Covid-19 vaccine will be released before Christmas, as a health expert predicts several vaccines for the summer

The first batch of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine will be released during the first week of December, a health expert revealed.

Professor Luke O’Neill has predicted that several different vaccines will be available by the summer.

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The immunology expert said “it’s still next door [himself] enthusiastically “after the news that Pfizer’s vaccine is 90 percent effective.

He said the vaccine “looks very, very promising.”

Speaking on the Late Late Show with Ryan Tubridy, Professor O’Neill said he expects 50 million doses to be implemented by Christmas and a total of eight vaccines will be available by next summer.

He said: “42,000 people in this trial, the largest trial in medical history. It will end in about a week, the trial, and then safety is next, we can see if this vaccine is safe.”

“We’ll know by the end of next week if it’s safe. We’re hopeful, Ryan really hopeful. They were expecting 60 percent. [efficacy] so they are absolutely impressed with him [result].

“The first week of December, they apply for approval in the US, the FDA grants it and the EMA in Europe. If it is approved the first week of December, it is implemented and now we mobilize the military that is Pfeizer.

“They’re making one for a billion doses, but 50 million before Christmas, it’s not that surprising! They are making trucks that will carry 7 million doses. In other words, they are already going live.”

‘THE BEST WEAPON WE HAVE’

Professor O’Neill explained that there is a second company using the same advanced technology as Pfizer, which is due to publish its report on its possible vaccine next week.

The health expert explained: “There is a second company, Moderna, with the same type of technology. If they get 90 percent efficacy, they are two separate companies with the same type of vaccine that achieve massive efficacy.”

“I’m on my knees praying for the results of Moderna next week, maybe Monday or Tuesday.”

He reminded Ryan that there were several other companies that were conducting trials and research on an effective Covid-19 vaccine and that there could potentially be eight vaccines in the summer.

The professor added: “[A vaccine] It is the best weapon we have to get the R number.

“Now you can imagine if we get to April / May next year and the R number is now 0.2 – that’s a tremendous result!

“That means the government can definitely relax and we can change things the way we want. That is Ryan’s dream.

“The next mission is to get people vaccinated.”

VACCINE CONSUMPTION

According to Professor O’Neil, a survey was conducted on Monday that showed 57 percent of Irish people would take the vaccine.

The professor said the number should increase to 70 percent.

Explaining how the virus will be divided, he said that “emergency use” is the first priority.

He said: “Health workers and older people [will get the virus first].

“There is a prediction that they will go to all the nursing homes with their van and vaccinate all the elderly people.

“The goal here is to protect people medically, not lock them up, that’s disastrous.”

The immunologist also described the side effects that the vaccine can bring, including “some flu-like symptoms” and “some soreness at the injection site, like other vaccines.”

But he assured RTE viewers that these symptoms will not be a limiting factor for the vaccine.

Meanwhile, 482 new cases of Covid-19 and seven more deaths were confirmed today.

There have now been a total of 1,972 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland and 67,099 confirmed cases.

Of the cases reported today, 128 are in Dublin, 45 in Cork, 43 in Waterford, 24 in Donegal, 24 in Meath, 36 in Limerick and the remaining 182 cases are spread across 20 other counties.