Possible New COVID-19 Vaccine
November 13, 2020
There has been a preliminary analysis of a new COVID-19 vaccine this week, and it shows that the vaccine is not only effective, but it can prevent more than 90% of people getting the virus. There may even be a limited number of people who get the vaccine this year.
The developers of the vaccine- Pfizer and BioNTech – have described this breakthrough as a “great day for science and humanity”. The vaccine has been tested on 43,500 people in six countries and has reported no safety concerns.
There are currently 11 vaccines worldwide that are in the final stages of testing, but this one is the first to show results.
What do we Know So Far?
According to a report by the BBC, the data so far shows that, for the new COVID-19 vaccine, two doses are needed, three weeks apart, and that 90% protection from the virus is achieved seven days after the second dose. This data is not the final analysis, however. We will not know the full extent of the findings until the full results are analysed.
The developers estimate that they will have enough safety data by the third week in November to be able to take their vaccine to regulators. The UK should get 10 million doses by the end of the year if it is approved. The UK have also ordered another 30 million, which means that 20 million people could have the vaccination.
At this point, there are still many things we do not know. One example is how long the immunity will last? With the flu vaccine, you need a re-vaccination every year, but with other vaccinations, the immunity lasts much longer. We are not likely to know the answer to this question for months or maybe even years.
When and Who Will Get the New COVID-19 Vaccine?
The government held a press conference earlier this week, during which they said that the UK would be ready to start rolling out the new COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it was allowed, however, they have stated that that is likely to be the start of next year for mass vaccination.
They have also said that there may be a limited number of people that can have the vaccine this year. Health care workers and social care workers are likely to be the first to get the vaccine. As well as the elderly living in care homes, as they are the highest risk of the virus. This all depends on if and when the vaccine is approved.
Potential Rise in Medical Negligence
Despite the government stating that the NHS are ready for the extra workload, here at The Medical Negligence Experts, we know that this may lead to delays in other aspects of the medical profession; from treatment delays or cancellations similar to the start of the pandemic, or delays in diagnosis becoming more common. If this happens to you or a loved one, then you may be able to claim for medical negligence. This is especially true if it has made the condition you are suffering with worse. Contact us today by filling in our contact form, or call us on 01614138761 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable advisors.