How is UK planning the roll out of COVID-19 vaccine for its citizens?

Team Udayavani, Dec 3, 2020, 2:08 PM IST

The UK on Wednesday became the first country to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19

The two-shot vaccine is also being reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S., where a similar authorization could come later this month and a rollout before the end of the year.

The move makes Britain one of the first countries to begin vaccinating its population as it tries to curb Europe’s deadliest COVID-19 outbreak, with almost 60,000 deaths

The UK has a Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) and it will help the government decide which parts of the population would be the first to receive the vaccine.

Elderly care home residents and their carers will be first in line to be vaccinated in the UK, followed by those over 80 and health and care workers.

Pregnant women won’t receive the vaccine during initial roll-out because the potential risks are unknown. The UK has ordered 4 crore doses and 8 lakh doses would be delivered next week.

A network of 50 hospitals was ready to deliver the first jabs and specialist vaccination centres were being built. The vaccine would also be available from some GPs and pharmacists if they have cold storage facilities.