Boris Johnson says anti-vaxxers are wrong (Image: Sky News)
The Prime Minister said during a Downing Street press conference: “Let’s be clear, there will be no compulsory vaccination. That’s not the way we do things in this country.
“We think it’s a good idea and I total reject the propaganda of the anti-vaxxers. They are wrong.
“Vulnerable people, people in need of a vaccine should definitely get vaccine. And everybody should get a vaccine as soon as it is available, according to the advice of JCVI.
“We should be very very pro vaccine.”
Professor Chris Whitty also reiterated the point the vaccine should be “voluntary” but added people should “want to take them”.
He added: “I would also like to reiterate a point the Prime Minister made, it is absolutely the case that either way, my advice would be, these should be voluntary vaccinations.
“But people should want to take them because they will protect them from a potentially very debilitating and in some cases sadly fatal disease by these vaccines.”
This comes after the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford in partnership with AstraZeneca was found to be up to 90 percent effective.
For one course of dosing, where people were given a half dose of the vaccine followed by a full measure at least a month later, tests showed there was an efficiency rate of 90 percent.
When two full doses were given at least a month apart, the inoculation had an efficiency rate of 62 percent.
The combined analysis from both dosing regimens resulted in an average efficacy of 70.4 percent.
The UK has placed orders for 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine, which would be enough to vaccinate most of the country’s population.
It is expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks if the jab is approved.
A further 40 million doses of the vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech have also been ordered, which has been shown to be 95 percent effective.
Of the reassuring news, Mr Johnson tweeted: “Incredibly exciting news the Oxford vaccine has proved so effective in trials.
“There are still further safety checks ahead, but these are fantastic results.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock described the latest coronavirus vaccine breakthrough by AstraZeneca with Oxford University as “fantastic news”.
He told Sky News: “This is really encouraging news on the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, that obviously we’ve been backing since the start.
“And I’m really very pleased, really welcome these figures, this data, that show that the vaccine in the right dosage can be up to 90% effective.
“Of course, it’s vital that the independent regulator, the MHRA, will need to look at the data, will need to check to make sure that it’s effective and safe of course.
“But we’ve got 100 million doses on order and should all that go well, the bulk of the rollout will be in the new year.”
Mr Hancock added: “And of course this vaccine, this homegrown vaccine, is easier to administer as well than the Pfizer vaccine, because it doesn’t need to be stored at minus 70.
“So having two vaccines that appear to have effectiveness, done right, in the 90% range is really, really good news.”
Professor Andrew Pollard, chief investigator of the Oxford Vaccine Trial at Oxford University, said: “These findings show that we have an effective vaccine that will save many lives.
“Excitingly, we’ve found that one of our dosing regimens may be around 90 percent effective and, if this dosing regime is used, more people could be vaccinated with planned vaccine supply.”
Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford, said: “The announcement today takes us another step closer to the time when we can use vaccines to bring an end to the devastation caused by COVID-19.
“We will continue to work to provide the detailed information to regulators. It has been a privilege to be part of this multi-national effort which will reap benefits for the whole world.”
AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot said: “Today marks an important milestone in our fight against the pandemic.
“This vaccine’s efficacy and safety confirm that it will be highly effective against Covid-19 and will have an immediate impact on this public health emergency.
“Furthermore, the vaccine’s simple supply chain and our no-profit pledge and commitment to broad, equitable and timely access means it will be affordable and globally available, supplying hundreds of millions of doses on approval.”
More to follow…
