Covid-19 vaccine: Who will get it, when and how?
The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine has been approved for use in the UK.
The most vulnerable, as well as health and care workers, are first in line for the vaccine.
But what does this mean for people being vaccinated?
– What’s in the pipeline for the UK?
The Government has secured 40 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, with 10 million promised for the UK by the end of the year.
Patients need two doses, meaning not enough shots have been secured for the entire UK population.
– How will a vaccine be rolled out?
Work has been going on behind the scenes to ensure that NHS staff are ready to start delivering jabs to the most vulnerable, as well as health and care workers, as a priority.
The NHS Nightingale Hospitals have also been earmarked as sites for mass vaccination clinics – among other uses.
In addition, NHS leaders have said there will be “roving teams” deployed to vaccinate care home residents and workers.
Based on the current information, the vaccines being developed require two doses per patient, with a 21 day gap between doses.
New regulations allowing more healthcare workers to administer flu and potential Covid-19 vaccines have also been introduced by the Government.
– Who is top of the list to get a coronavirus vaccine?
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has examined data on who suffers the worst outcomes from coronavirus and who is at highest risk of death.
But who will get a jab could depend on how easily one can be rolled out, with the Pfizer jab needing storage temperatures of minus 70C to minus 80C.
For now, the JCVI’s interim guidance says the order of priority should be:
1. Older adults in a care home and care home workers
2. All those who are 80 years of age and over and health and social care workers
3. All those who are 75 years of age and over
4. All those who are 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals, excluding pregnant women and those under 18 years of age
5. All those who are 65 years of age and over
6. Adults aged 18 to 65 years in an at-risk group
7. All those aged 60 and over
8. All those aged 55 and over
9. All those aged 50 and over
Will you have the vaccine when offered? Where do you fit into the priority list?
The Press Association
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