Oxford Covid vaccine 'to be ready in days' as 'millions prepare to get jab in 2021'

The Oxford coronavirus vaccine is expected to be rolled out in Britain within days of Christmas, it has been revealed.

Approval for the jab - developed with pharma giant AstraZeneca - could speed up the UK’s vaccine rollout dramatically.

Britain has ordered on 100million doses of the Oxford jab on top of 40million of the Pfizer vaccine, which is already being rolled out.

The Daily Telegraph disclosed last night that the latest vaccine should be approved just days after Christmas.

If so, it will kick-start a drive to vaccinated millions of people a week from January.

According to The Telegraph, senior Whitehall sources believe the vaccine will be authorised on December 28 or 29.

Mass inoculations will then take place in football stadiums and locations across the UK.

The news follows Sarah Gilbert, lead researcher on the programme, suggesting she was hopeful the jab will be the second to be approved by UK regulators soon, last week.

Asked by the BBC's Andrew Marr if he will receive the Oxford jab by the end of the year, Prof Gilbert replied: “Well, it depends on the age group you’re in, [priority groups].

"So I think the chances are pretty high."

She said Britain needs multiple vaccines to quell any problems with the supply of raw materials in future.

“Having multiple shots on goal, multiple irons in the fire, is what we really need," she added.

While the Pfizer jab must be stored at minus 70 degrees, the Oxford jab can be stored and transported more easily.

But the Oxford jab is still being evaluated.

Trials suggested it was 62% effective for some participants, but 90% effective for a small group of reportedly younger participants who were accidentally given a different dose.

The news comes amid claims Boris Johnson could hit England's South East with strict travel restrictions just days before Christmas.

The Prime Minister is said to be considering a travel ban that could take effect as early as Saturday.

The measure could be rushed through after he was given worrying new evidence of the virulence of the new mutant strain of Covid-19, The Telegraph reported last night.

Mr Johnson was reportedly in emergency talks with senior Cabinet members tonight concerning measures to stop the strain spreading beyond London and the South East.

Mirror