British health authorities began
rolling out the first doses of a widely tested and independently reviewed
Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday; starting a global immunization program that is
expected to gain momentum as more serums win approval. The first shot came
early in the morning at one of a network of hospital hubs around the country
where the initial phase of the United Kingdom program will be Rolled out on
what has been dubbed ‘V-Day.’ Public health officials are asking the public to
be patient because only those who are most at risk from Covid-19 will be
vaccinated in the early stages. Medical staff will contact people to arrange
appointments, and most will have to wait until next year before there is enough
vaccine to expand the program. ‘I think there’s every chance that we will look
back on Tuesday as marking a decisive turning point in the battle against
coronavirus;’ said Simon Stevens; the chief executive officer of England’s
National Health Service. The first recipient was grandmother Margaret Keenan;
who turns 91 next week. She received the shot at University Hospital Coventry
at 6:31am. Keenan says she feels ‘so privileged to be the first person
vaccinated against Covid-19’. “It’s the best early birthday present I could
wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my
family and friends in the New Year after being on my own for most of the year;’
she said. The first 800,000 doses are going to people over 80 who are either
hospitalized or already have outpatient appointments scheduled; along with
nursing home workers. Others will have to wait their turn. Among those older
Britons scheduled to get vaccinated is Hari Shukla; of Newcastle. ‘When I
received the telephone call; I was very excited I got the opportunity of
joining in and taking part in that;’ he said. ‘So we are very very pleased and
happy and excited as well.’ Buckingham Palace refused to comment on reports
that Queen Elizabeth II; 94; and her 99-year-old husband; Prince Philip; would
be vaccinated as a public example of its safety. ‘Our goal is totally to
protect every member of the population; Her Majesty; of course; as well;’ Dr.
June Raine; chief executive of Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare products
Regulatory Agency; told the BBC. Public health officials elsewhere
are watching Britain’s rollout as they prepare for the unprecedented task of
vaccinating billions of people to end a pandemic that has killed more than 1.5
million. While the UK has a well-developed infrastructure for delivering
vaccines, it is geared to administer them to groups such as school children or
pregnant women; not the whole population. The UK is getting a head start on the
project after British regulators on December 2 gave emergency authorization to
the vaccine produced by US drug maker Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech. US and
European Union authorities are also reviewing the vaccine; alongside rival
products developed by US biotechnology company Moderna; and a collaboration
between Oxford University and drugmaker AstraZeneca. On Saturday; Russia began
vaccinating thousands of doctors; teachers and others at dozens of centres in
Moscow with its Sputnik V vaccine. That program is being viewed differently
because Russia authorized use of Sputnik V last summer after it was tested in
only a few dozen people. The first shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
were delivered to a selected group of UK hospitals on Sunday. At one of those
facilities; Croydon University Hospital, south of London, staff members
couldn’t so much as touch the vials, but they were thrilled to just have them
in the building. ‘I’m so proud;’ said Louise Coughlan; joint chief pharmacist
at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust. The vaccine can’t arrive soon enough for
the UK; which has more than 61,000 Covid-19-related deaths - more than any
other country has reported in Europe. The UK has more than 1.7 million cases. The
800,000 doses are only a fraction of what is needed. The government is
targeting more than 25 million people; or about 40 per cent of the population,
in the first phase of its vaccination program; which gives first priority to
those who are highest risk from the disease. After those over 80 and nursing
home workers; the program will be expanded as the supply increases, with the
vaccine offered roughly on the basis of age groups; starting with the oldest
people. In England; the vaccine will be delivered at 50 hospital hubs in the
first wave of the program; with more hospitals expected to offer it as the
rollout ramps up. Northern Ireland; Scotland and Wales are making their own
plans under the UK’s system of devolved administration. Logistical issues are
slowing the distribution of the Pfizer vaccine because it has to be stored at
minus-70 degrees Celsius. The immunization
program me will be a ‘marathon; not a sprint;’ said professor Stephen Powis,
medical director for NHS England. Authorities also are focusing on large-scale
distribution points because each package of vaccine contains 975 doses and they
don’t want any to be wasted. The UK has agreed to buy millions of doses from
seven different producers. Governments around the world are making agreements
with multiple developers to ensure they lock in delivery of the products that
are ultimately approved for widespread use.
by: mhmaamay - mhmamay
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