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The head of England’s largest NHS hospital trust has said that in the “best case scenario” it could take until April to vaccinate enough people to make a difference against Covid.
Dr David Rosser, Executive Director of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, said: “It is quite clear that vaccination will not appear en masse until probably the beginning of February at the earliest.
“It is encouraging, (that) there are indications that we could have some vaccine to vaccinate nursing home residents and the most vulnerable before then.
“But the big trucks full of stuff won’t arrive before February, that seems pretty clear.”
Dr Rosser, speaking in a video call with West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and the heads of the regional and health council, said: “You must have two vaccinations, one month apart, and you are not fully covered up to two weeks after the second vaccination.
“Even if we could magically vaccinate the entire population in the first two weeks of February, which we can’t, it will take a minimum of eight weeks.
“Clearly it is well into March or April before enough of the population is vaccinated to make a difference in spread.”
Dr. Rosser added: “Remember how many people still die from this disease.
“500 patients died yesterday in the country.
“There are many days between now and March; there are many people who will die.
“A lot of people who will not have surgery if people have to go to the hospital.”
He said: “The idea that people are just saying ‘a vaccine is coming, let’s go out and party’ is just terrifying from where I am.”
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