MILLIONS to get Covid vaccine THIS MONTH as Hancock promises life will be back to normal by spring

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MILLIONS of Brits will get the Covid vaccine THIS MONTH, Matt Hancock said today, as he said life will be back to normal by spring.

Up to 800,000 doses will be on the way into arms from early next week and millions this month, he confirmed today – as the Pfizer vaccine became the first in the world to get the green light.

The jab – which is 95 per cent effective and developed by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German firm BioNTech – is safe for use, health regulators say.

It means the UK is the first country in the world to give a vaccine the green light.

The news came as England’s second national lockdown ended today, plunging the nation into harsher restrictions – but opening shops, gyms and leisure centres.

Mr Hancock said this morning: “I am absolutely thrilled the UK is the first country in the world to have a clinically authorised vaccine for Covid-19.

“We now know that help is on its way – 2021 is going to be better.”

He told Sky News this morning: “By the spring we’re going to be through this.”

Mr Hancock said the bulk of the rollout will come in the new year, adding: “We haven’t put a finger on the numbers before Christmas.

“But what we do know is that we can get started next week with that first load and then several millions will be coming throughout December.

“People will be contacted by the NHS when it’s their turn and I urge you very strongly to come forward because obviously being vaccinated is good for you, it’s approved as clinically safe by the regulator and it’s good for your community as well to help get this virus under control once and for all.”

The vaccine requires two doses, 21 days apart, and has to be kept at a very low temperature, restricting some of where it can go immediately.

 

Mr Hancock was speaking to the media as he tearfully revealed in the Commons last night he had lost his step-grandad to Covid-19.

In highly emotional scenes in Parliament, the Health Secretary said his own family has been hit by the tragedy of the pandemic.

He paid tribute to his step grandfather Derek, describing him as a “loving husband, father and grandfather”.

Becoming tearful as he closed the Covid debate in the House of Commons, Mr Hancock thanked Brits for knuckling down to defeat the virus.

Boris Johnson addressed MPs in the Commons tonight as he opened a debate on Tier restrictions

Matt Hancock choked back tears as he spoke in the Commons ahead of last night’s vote