We’ll be out of this by spring, says Matt Hancock
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said today that he was confident the UK will be out of the current crisis by the spring.
He was speaking shortly after it was announced that the UK has licensed a second coronavirus vaccine.
Since the Oxford University-AstreZenca vaccine is cheap and quick to mass produce – and unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine it can be stored in a normal fridge – it is expected to significantly speed up the vaccination programme across the UK.
Speaking on LBC Radio this morning, Mr Hancock said: "We now know with a degree of confidence that we will be out of this by the spring."
While refusing to put on date on when the tiered restrictions will be lifted, he said they would start to be removed as flowers begin to bloom.
The Government has ordered 100 million doses of the AstreZeneca vaccine – enough for 50 million people – which will start to be rolled out across the UK from Monday 4 January, he said.
Protection will kick in two weeks after the first dose but for long-term protection a second dose will be needed after 90 days.
As the vaccine is easier than the Pfizer jab to transport and store, it can be given in GPs surgeries. Mr Hancock said it will ‘accelerate the vaccination programme and bring forward the moment when we can get out of this’.
In the meantime, the Health Secretary will announce later today that more areas of England will be placed under the toughest Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions due to a sharp rise in cases post-Christmas.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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