The start of the Oxford/AstraZeneca rollout is excellent news and will provide reassurance to so many. AZ’s chief executive has said they can produce up to 2 million doses a week. 1/6
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@MattHancock told me last week that the NHS is capable of delivering the vaccines at this pace. This must become the central, overriding focus of government and I would encourage ministers to publish daily reports of progress. 2/6
Vaccinating the oldest and most at risk groups dramatically changes the impact of Covid – in terms of deaths, serious health consequences and admissions to hospital. 3/6
The Health Sec indicated that vaccinating everyone 65+ within 7 weeks – by the 3rd week of Feb – is feasible. Given ~90% of those who have sadly died from Covid are 65+, their vaccination should be a threshold for when a substantial relaxation in restrictions can begin 4/6
The Govt must urgently set out exactly how the vaccination rollout will translate into a return to normal life for us all in 2021, how and when it will lift restrictions and when our freedoms, economy and health prospects will be fully restored. 5/6
These cycles of lockdowns and restrictions are not without downsides - impacting on jobs, health and life chances that will be visible for years to come. It’s vital we act as swiftly as we can to vaccinate those most at risk. 6/6
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