With the news that a Covid-19 vaccine has been approved for widespread use in the UK, people are wondering what the process of getting the vaccine will entail.
Following clinical trials involving thousands of people and extensive analysis of the vaccine’s safety, quality and effectiveness, Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine has been authorised for use in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Tens of thousands of people will receive the vaccine from next week, the UK government has said. Here’s what you need to know about the rollout.
When will people be told they can have the vaccine?
Vaccinations are expected to begin this month – some as soon as next week. Due to certain groups being prioritised for the vaccine, it will initially be offered in 50 hospital hubs across England to the over 80s, as well as care home staff.
Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said at a press conference that typically, these would be people already in hospital for outpatient appointments. These people will be contacted by their hospital if they are eligible for the vaccine, they don’t need to contact the hospital themselves.
It’s not been made clear exactly how the vaccine will be rolled out for care home residents. The JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation), which is in charge of the prioritisation the vaccine, said “every effort will be made” to supply the vaccine to them – but acknowledged there will need to be flexibility in terms of operational challenges around the delivery of the vaccine to them.
Due to logistics, the main bulk of priority vaccinations will happen in the new year rather than this month.
In Scotland, a number of venues for mass vaccination are being considered and there are hopes that prioritised groups will start being vaccinated next week. In Wales, each health board will get its share of vaccines, which will be distributed to those prioritised at the same time. People in Northern Ireland could receive their Covid-19 vaccines as soon as 9 December, according to BBC News NI.
All of the above will follow the prioritisation list set out by the JCVI.
How will people be told?
Prioritised groups will be called upon to take the vaccine either from their GP or hospital via a letter from the NHS. Similarly, in Wales, people will be contacted by their health body if they are due for a vaccine.
Health and social care secretary Matt Hancock urged those who are called forward for vaccination by the NHS “to respond quickly, to protect themselves, their loved ones and their community”.
How many vaccines do you need?
The vaccine is given in two doses, three weeks apart. Data from clinical trials showed the vaccine is 94% effective in protecting people over the age of 65 from coronavirus, with trials suggesting it works equally well in people of all ages, races and ethnicities.
Where will the vaccinations take place?
In addition to hospital hubs, the vaccine will be delivered through local community services, including GPs and, eventually, through pharmacies. “GPs will be in touch with their at-risk patients inviting them to come forward for vaccination,” said Sir Stevens.
At a later stage, vaccination centres are expected to pop up in conference centres and sports venues in order to vaccinate large numbers of people.
Who will be administering the vaccines?
Trained healthcare professionals will be administering the vaccines in hospitals and GP surgeries. There has been talk of volunteers signing up to help with delivery of the vaccine, which may help demand when the pop-up vaccination centres are launched.
A NHS spokesperson confirmed to HuffPost UK that anyone who will be giving out the vaccine will be put through proper training to be able to safely deliver it.
Who will be prioritised for the vaccine?
- Older adult residents in a care home and care home workers
- All those 80 years of age and over. Front line health and social care workers
- All those 75 years of age and over
- All those 70 years of age and over
- All those 65 years of age and over
- All Individuals aged 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions.
- All those 60 years of age and over
- All those 55 years of age and over
- All those 50 years of age and over
- The rest of the population (priority to be determined)
The “second phase” of the vaccine roll out could also include specific occupations who are most at risk, such as teachers, bus drivers, taxi drivers, the military, civil servants and emergency services under 50 years of age.
What are the underlying health conditions that will mean those aged 16 to 64 will be prioritised?
- Chronic respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis and severe asthma
- Chronic heart disease (and vascular disease)
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic neurological disease including epilepsy
- Down’s syndrome
- Severe and profound learning disability
- Diabetes
- Solid organ, bone marrow and stem cell transplant recipients
- People with specific cancers
- Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment
- Asplenia and splenic dysfunction
- Morbid obesity
- Severe mental illness
What about pregnant women?
We don’t know yet how safe the vaccines are for pregnant women, so they’re not advised to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Women are advised not to come forward for vaccination if they may be pregnant or are planning a pregnancy within three months of the first dose.
As more vaccines become available, will people have a say over which vaccine they would like?
It’s very unlikely people will be able to decide which vaccine they have – there are several types of flu vaccine, for example, and people are given the most appropriate vaccine relevant to their age and health. This will most likely be the case with the new Covid-19 vaccines, too. However all vaccines will be put through rigorous testing before being approved for public use.
