NHS ready to roll out first Covid jabs by weekend as Army prepares 10 mass vaccine hubs including Epsom racecourse
THE Army and the NHS are preparing to roll out the first coronavirus vaccines by this weekend, it has been reported.
Soldiers have been reportedly ordered to transform 10 sites, including London’s Nightingale hospital at the Excel Centre, into vaccination hubs.
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Other sites include Epsom racecourse in Surrey and Ashton Gate football stadium in Bristol, the Telegraph reports.
There will also be a mass vaccination site in every big city with 1,000 smaller venues across England including GP surgeries, pharmacies and health clinics, it has been reported.
Downing Street is hoping Britain will be the first western country to authorise use of the Covid-19 remedy.
It is believed other European countries will approve the jab shortly after Christmas.
According to the report, the NHS has requested assistance from the Ministry of Defence via the “Military aid to the civil authorities” protocol.
And at least one “major” hospital trust in London reportedly expects to start vaccinating people as early as Monday after health chiefs called on volunteers to take the jab, the Telegraph reports.
A senior Whitehall source said: “All of these preparations are being made in advance of any decision about any vaccine being approved by the independent regulator.
“If one vaccine is found to be safe and effective, we can move ahead quickly with distraction because vaccinating millions of people is a significant logistical challenge.”
This comes amid reports that the Pfizer vaccine will be approved by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Downing Street has secured 40 million doses of the remedy – which is said to be 95 per cent effective – enough for 20 million people.
Jabs would normally have to be authorised by the European Medicines Agency until December 31, the end of the Brexit transition.
Yet, Number 10 instructed the MHRA to fast track the jab as the UK agency can temporarily approve products when they are urgently needed.
Government insiders say the first vaccination could be carried out within eight hours of the authorisation, the Telegraph says.
Yet, The Times reports that while the Pfizer jab is expected to be approved within days, sources have said that there will be “a lag” of at least one week before doses can be administered.
This is because the vaccine cannot be physically released to the NHS until the remedy has been authorised.
And the Daily Mail reports that ministers are preparing for a decision by the MHRA as early as TODAY meaning the jab could be administered as early as next week.
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Downing Street has told the regulator to review the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine as well.
Unlike Pfizer, it does not need to be frozen at -70C to -80C and can be easily moved by health workers administering jabs in care homes.
NHS staff will be first in the queue for the jab under plans being finalised by health bosses, it has been reported.
Frontline workers are now expected to be immunised ahead of care home residents and other vulnerable older Brits.
High-risk under-65s will also move up the pecking order.
