The Covid-19 vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca has now been approved for use in the UK, and with it comes a big dose of optimism as 2021 approaches.
The approval comes at just the right time to stem the growing rates of infection and the resultant hospitalisations. The Government pre-ordered 100 million doses and roll out begins on 4 January across the UK.
The Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock speaking earlier today said that volumes of the new vaccine combined with the already approved Pfizer-BioNTech’s was sufficient to vaccinate the entire UK population.
The Prime Minister called the vaccine development a triumph for British science, and England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty welcomed the news recognising the considerable collective effort in the development programme from all.
The new vaccine has one huge advantage over its Pfizer-BioNTech counterpart through being able to be stored in normal existing fridges. This makes the logistics of vaccination far less difficult to execute as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine needs to be kept at minus 70C.
Matt Hancock is now talking about getting back to somewhere near normal by Spring, although precisely what somewhere near normal means and how that will be achieved has still to be unveiled.
As we enter 2021 with most hospitality providers closed and unable to trade, the news of the vaccine will come as a welcome boost. Alongside that news we would implore the Government to announce sufficient economic support now also for businesses to weather the next few months.
2021 post Covid hospitality and catering, sustainable and plant-based
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Hospitality & Catering News: Spring hope for hospitality – 30 December 2020 – Spring hope for hospitality
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