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The coronavirus vaccine could run out next month, warned former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
This morning, Mr Hunt revealed that doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which tens of thousands of Britons currently receive every day, are expected to run out by the end of January with no new stocks until March.
He expressed hope that the Oxford / Astrazeneca vaccine could be implemented at the same time to compensate.
“(The Oxford launch) will make a big difference because the doses we have of the Pfizer vaccine will keep us going until the end of January and I think we won’t get another shipment until March,” Hunt said. he told the Today show.
(Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
“If we could have the Oxford / Astrazeneca vaccine ready until January, we could keep the rollout at the current rate.”
In more positive news, the Oxford coronavirus vaccine is expected to be put into use in Britain a few days before Christmas, it has been revealed.
Approval of the jab, developed with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, could dramatically accelerate the launch of the vaccine in the UK.
Britain has ordered 100 million doses of Oxford jab in addition to 40 million of the Pfizer vaccine, which is already in use.
The Daily Telegraph revealed last night that the latest vaccine should be approved a few days after Christmas.
(Image: Jonathan Hordle / REX / Shutterstock)
Even with sufficient vaccine doses secured, the way they are implemented is crucial to the success of the pandemic response.
“I think the way the vaccine implementation has developed is very encouraging, because we have a brilliant network of GPs in this country,” Hunt continued.
“There is one other thing that is very worrying right now.
“That is, about 24% of all coronavirus infections appear to be being detected in hospitals, and some hospitals probably up to a third of all their infections were detected in their hospitals.”
“I think we need to consider the priority of the NHS staff in terms of when to get the vaccine.
“If you want to keep an 80-year-old person safe, the best way to do that may be to vaccinate the healthcare staff who treat you at the hospital.”
(Image: Getty Images)
The President of the Royal College of GPs, Professor Martin Marshall, has said he will accelerate the implementation of the coronavirus vaccination program in nursing homes if regulators approve the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
“Right now we are dealing with this Pfizer vaccine, which is difficult,” he told BBC Radio 4 Today.
“Assuming we are going to get approval for the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is much more familiar because it is much more like the flu vaccine, I think we will be able to implement it at a much faster rate, but certainly over time. next weeks and months to come we expect all nursing homes to be covered. “
(Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Hunt went on to say that the government faces a “very difficult and finely balanced judgment” on whether to strengthen the coronavirus rules.
Mr. Hunt, who now chairs the Commons Health and Social Care Committee, said that if ministers did not want to change the law, they should consider strengthening the guidance on social distancing.
“It is a very difficult judgment, finely balanced. The biggest concern is what happens inside family gatherings and that is where the risks increase,” he said.
“They have to respond to what is happening on the ground.
“I think they can be clearer about what is and is not advisable because it would be a huge tragedy if we had an increase in deaths in late January / February because we took our foot off the pedal so close to having a vaccine.” . “
Hunt said he was on “the razor’s edge” if a third national shutdown would be needed after Christmas.
“Looking at the numbers, it is difficult to judge at this point because in the Northeast and Northwest, although infection levels are increasing, they are still much lower than they have been, and the second strain of the virus does not appear to have spread. both in the North and in the South. I would say that right now it is on the razor’s edge. “
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