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The health secretary has told Sky News that he expects a mass vaccination program against COVID-19 to be launched “in a matter of weeks.”
A coronavirus vaccine has yet to receive official approval, but two US-led treatments have been found to be more than 90% effective.
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The UK government has ordered a sufficient quantity of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to treat 20 million people, while also securing five million doses of the Moderna vaccine.
Speaking to Kay Burley, Matt Hancock said “nothing is guaranteed yet,” but there are “encouraging signs of hope.”
He told the program that the NHS was working to deliver the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine “in parallel” and “in a matter of weeks.”
“Normally 15 million people are vaccinated against the flu. This year it will be 30 million, the highest number in history,” Hancock said.
“We hope that we will also have a COVID vaccination program along with that. Arrangements are being made for the NHS to deliver it at scale.”
“It will be a big effort, and I know the NHS is up to the task.”
The health secretary said he expects people to be vaccinated in large numbers in 2021.
Derby City Council has said that the Derby Arena is being considered as a temporary vaccination center.
Chris Poulter, Derby City Council Leader, said: “The potential launch of a COVID vaccine is a welcome step in the national effort against the spread of COVID-19; Derby is honored to have the opportunity to play a critical part in any vaccination program.
“The Arena is a perfect location – it has plenty of space, parking and good transport networks to serve Derby, Derbyshire and beyond.”
On the overall pandemic situation, Hancock said there were “encouraging signs” that the number of cases is beginning to decline.
“The lockdown we brought in earlier this month is working, but in the meantime everyone must follow the rules,” he told Sky News.
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When asked if people will be able to see their loved ones during Christmas, Hancock acknowledged that it would not be a “normal Christmas” as in previous years.
The health secretary said “there will have to be rules,” but added: “We hope they allow a little more of that normal Christmas that people expect.”
The UK government and decentralized administrations are in talks about what COVID-19 The measures should be in effect during Christmas, with details to be made public shortly.
Mr. Hancock said, “I know how important Christmas is. It’s important to my family, it’s important to people across the country.
“We need to have a set of rules, if possible, for the whole of the UK. Especially since a lot of people travel to parts of” the UK “.
He added: “Of course it will not be like a normal Christmas, there will have to be rules, but we hope they allow a little more of that normal Christmas that people expect.”
Hancock said he is planning a small family Christmas within existing rules because a final decision on the measures has yet to be made.
