Coronavirus 'nasal spray vaccine' discussed by expert
As much of the UK has been hit with tougher lockdown restrictions in recent days, many are holding out hope that Covid vaccines will signal the start of returning to normality in Britain. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, of which the UK has secured 40 million doses, has started to be administered to patients across the UK. Further vaccinations, such as the Moderna and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, are currently being analysed and will hopefully be approved over the coming weeks and months.
Who will get the vaccine first?
Limited numbers of vaccines are currently available in the UK, so groups considered at highest risk of developing serious complications or dying from COVID-19 are getting the vaccines initially.
Currently, the vaccine is being offered to some people over the age of 80 who already have a hospital appointment scheduled in the next few weeks.
People who live or work in care homes and health care workers considered at high risk are also being offered vaccinations.
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Some hospital hubs across the UK, along with local vaccination centres run by GPs, are currently offering vaccinations for some people.
But most people won’t receive their Covid vaccinations before the end of the year, with the Government stating the bulk of vaccinations will take place in 2021.
The NHS is currently organising the rollout of further vaccines at more locations over the coming weeks and months.
People will be told when it is their turn to have the Covid vaccine, and the NHS is urging people to wait to be contacted rather than contact the NHS for vaccination before then.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised the Government on who should be prioritised for Covid vaccines in Phase 1 of vaccine rollout in the UK.
This priority list is as follows:
- Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
- All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers
- All those 75 years of age and over
- All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
- All those 65 years of age and over
- All individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
- 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 Government guidance states the following phase of vaccine rollout may focus on “further reduction in hospitalisation”.
The next phase of vaccinations is also expected to involve “targeted vaccination of those at high risk of exposure and/or those delivering key public services”.
The guidance adds: “Vaccination of those at increased risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 due to their occupation could also be a priority in the next phase.”
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Therefore, the JCVI states the following groups could be prioritised to receive vaccines at this stage:
- First responders
- The military
- Those involved in the justice system
- Teachers
- Transport workers
- Public servants essential to the pandemic response.
As for when the rest of the population will get a Covid vaccine, the Government guidance adds: “Wider use of COVID-19 vaccines will provide a better understanding of whether they can prevent infection and onward transmission in the population.
“Data on vaccine impact on transmission, along with data on vaccine safety and effectiveness, will potentially allow for consideration of vaccination across the rest of the population.”
When am I likely to get the Covid vaccine?
At the moment most people will have to sit tight and wait to be contacted about their vaccination date.
The Omni Vaccine Queue Calculator can give an approximate timeframe you may receive the vaccine, based on your answers to a few questions.
The calculator is based on the UK Government priority list, and can be accessed HERE.
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