UK Eyes Mass Vaccination Centres as Pfizer Vaccine Hits 90% Effectiveness
The British Medical Association has backed using mass vaccination centres, similar to those set up for Covid testing, as hope rises around a new vaccine.
Early results from Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid jab reveal it prevents over 90% of people from catching the virus. This game-changing news follows trials involving 43,500 participants.
But Boris Johnson urged caution, saying it’s “very, very early days” and Brits shouldn’t “rely on this news as a solution” just yet.
Vaccine Rollout Plans Underway
- Pfizer and BioNTech aim for emergency approval by the end of November.
- The UK has ordered 40 million doses, enough for 20 million people (two doses each).
- A limited supply might be available before year-end.
Mental Health Toll of Covid Revealed
A grim study out of the University of Oxford found that 1 in 5 Covid patients develop mental health issues within 3 months. Anxiety, depression, and insomnia topped the list.
For 5% of survivors, it was their first-ever mental health diagnosis. The analysis looked at 69 million US health records, including 62,000 Covid cases.
Scotland Holds Steady as Restrictions Stay Firm
Nicola Sturgeon signalled no major easing of Covid restrictions in Scotland this week. Cases have plateaued but are still worryingly high.
“While a plateauing of cases is undoubtedly better than a rise, we can’t afford cases simply to plateau at their current quite high level,” Sturgeon said.
She warned a rise in cases remains a real threat as the country heads deeper into winter.
