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UK starts mass COVID vaccination program

Phil Hazlewood, Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/reuters/12/08/20201207-health-coronavirus-britain-vaccine.jpg"/><figcaption>A card which will be given to patients following a vaccination for COVID-19 is seen at Croydon University Hospital in Croydon, Britain, Dec.5, 2020. Picture taken December 5, 2020. <em>Gareth Fuller, Pool/Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>LONDON - Britain on Tuesday hailed a turning point in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, as it begins the biggest vaccination program in the country&#x27;s history with a new COVID-19 jab.</p><p>The first patients in line on what has been dubbed &quot;V-Day&quot; -- the over-80s, care home workers and at-risk frontline health and social care staff -- will roll up their sleeves for an initial dose from early morning.</p><p>They will then require a second jab in 21 days&#x27; time.</p><p>Last week, Britain became the first country to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, raising hopes of a breakthrough in the pandemic, which has killed more than 1.5 million worldwide.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/02/20/uk-approves-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-first-in-the-world">UK approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, first in the world</a></li></ul><p>Britain has been one of the worst-affected countries in the world, with more than 61,000 deaths in the outbreak from 1.6 million cases.</p><p>Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who spent days in intensive care with COVID-19 earlier this year, called it a &quot;huge step forward in the UK&#x27;s fight against coronavirus.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/03/27/20/british-prime-minister-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus">British Prime Minister Johnson tests positive for coronavirus</a></li></ul><p>UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who has offered to have the jab on live television to allay public fears, said the rollout was a &quot;key moment&quot; that would protect the most vulnerable.</p><p>The head of the state-run National Health Service in England, Simon Stevens, said it was a &quot;decisive turning point&quot; against the &quot;greatest health challenge&quot; since the NHS was founded in 1948.</p><p>Regulatory approval for the vaccine was given last Wednesday, sparking a race against time to prepare scores of vaccination centers across the country.</p><p>The UK has ordered 40 million doses of the jab -- enough to vaccinate 20 million people -- with 800,000 in the first batch.</p><p>Up to 4 million doses are expected by the end of December.</p><div><strong>QUEEN COULD LEAD WAY</strong></div><p>The mass vaccination drive is a coordinated response by all 4 nations of the UK -- England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland -- which normally set their own health policies.</p><p>The public has been largely favorable to the rapid approval of the vaccine, but ministers and health professionals are aware they still need to combat mistrust.</p><p>The independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency maintains that no corners were cut and its assessment and approval procedures met stringent international norms.</p><p>NHS England said thousands had already been given the jab during trials with no serious side effects.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/06/20/britains-queen-elizabeth-to-get-covid-19-vaccine-in-weeks-reports">Britain&#x27;s Queen Elizabeth to get COVID-19 vaccine &#x27;in weeks&#x27;: reports</a></li></ul><p>Nevertheless, it has been reported Queen Elizabeth II, who at 94 is among those first in the line for the vaccination because of her age, could front a public awareness campaign urging compliance.</p><p>The government said it will hand out vaccine cards to remind people to get the booster after 3 weeks, but insisted it was not introducing immunity certificates.</p><div><strong>&#x27;MARGINAL IMPACT&#x27; IN WINTER</strong></div><p>The chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland said the vaccine will as a result only have a &quot;marginal impact&quot; on hospital numbers over the winter months.</p><p>Johnson called for patience and urged the public to stick to strict social distancing guidelines to prevent a spike in cases, particular as rules are relaxed over Christmas.</p><p>Health officials have already run into a logistical headache about how to administer the vaccine to elderly or infirm care home residents.</p><p>The vaccine needs to be stored at -70 degrees Celsius (-94 Fahrenheit), leaving hospitals and other medical hubs as the only places able to deal with such ultra-low temperatures.</p><p>With the Pfizer-BioNTech drug made in Belgium, concerns have also been raised about potential disruption to supply when Britain leaves the European Union&#x27;s single market and customs union.</p><p>But the UK government said the military is on stand-by to air-lift the vaccine if there is any border disruption from Jan. 1.</p><p>The bulk of Britain&#x27;s vaccine requirements are expected to be met by a jab developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, which is awaiting regulatory approval.</p><p>The government has ordered an initial 100 million doses of the drug, which is cheaper to manufacture, and easier to store and transport using conventional fridges.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8wA5ko1l1wU?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><div> </div>

<p>UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who has offered to have the jab on live television to allay public fears, said the rollout was a "key moment" that would protect the most vulnerable.</p>

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who has offered to have the jab on live television to allay public fears, said the rollout was a "key moment" that would protect the most vulnerable.

UK starts mass COVID vaccination program

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UK starts mass COVID vaccination program

Phil Hazlewood,

Agence France-Presse

Published Dec 08, 2020 02:02 PM PHT

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