The vaccine rollout moves up a gear today as the first of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca coronavirus jabs are injected. Some 530,000 doses will be available at a handful of hospitals before the bulk of supplies go to hundreds of surgeries across the country this week.
Hailing it a “testament to British science”, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “This is a pivotal moment in our fight against this awful virus and I hope it provides renewed hope to everybody that the end of this pandemic is in sight.” Administering some of the first jabs this morning is Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where the vaccine was developed, as well as trusts in London, East Sussex, Lancashire and Warwickshire.