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 Health workers started inoculating the most vulnerable with the
vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, with the country a test
case for the world as it contends with distributing a compound that
must be stored at -70C (-94F).
Margaret Keenan, who turns 91 in a week, was the first to receive
the shot, at a hospital in Coventry, central England.
"It's the best early birthday present I could wish for because it
means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and
friends in the new year after being on my own for most of the year,"
she said.
The launch of the vaccine, one of three shots that have reported
successful results from large trials, will fuel hope that the world
may be turning a corner in the fight against a pandemic that has
killed more than 1.5 million people.
Britain, the worst-hit in Europe with over 61,000 deaths, is the
first Western nation to begin mass-vaccinations and the first
globally to roll out the Pfizer/BioNTech shot.
But despite the relief of people receiving the first dose of the
two-dose regimen, they will have to wait three weeks for their
second shot, and there is no evidence immunisation will reduce
transmission of the virus.
"It will gradually make a huge, huge difference. But I stress
gradually, because we're not there yet. We haven't defeated this
virus yet," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he expected millions to be
vaccinated by the end of the year, and described the start of the
drive as "V-Day". But he cautioned people should respect
social-distancing rules until spring at least, when he hoped the
most vulnerable people would be vaccinated.
The country has ordered enough supplies of the Pfizer/BioNTech shot
to vaccinate 20 million people. The developers said it was 95%
effective in preventing illness in final-stage trials.
Russia and China have both already started giving domestically
produced vaccine candidates to their populations, though before
final safety and efficacy trials have been completed.
FIVE DAYS IN A FRIDGE
In Britain, about 800,000 doses are expected to be available within
the first week, with care home residents and carers, the over-80s
and some health service workers prioritised.
Hancock said that he had a "high degree of confidence" Britain would
take delivery of another batch of the vaccine next week.
The country is relatively small with good infrastructure. Yet the
logistical challenges in distributing the vaccine, which only lasts
five days in a regular fridge, mean it will first go to dozens of
hospitals and cannot yet be taken into care homes.
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Bigger tests could await for the Pfizer/BioNTech shot, as well as a vaccine from
Moderna, which was found to have a similar level of success in trials and is
based on the same mRNA genetic technology that requires such ultra-cold storage.
Transport and distribution could prove more challenging in bigger countries,
including the United States and India which have been worst-hit by the pandemic,
and in hotter nations.
The third vaccine to have had trial success, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford
University, is viewed as offering one of the best hopes for many developing
countries because it is cheaper and can be transported at normal fridge
temperatures. Late-stage trials found it had an average success rate of 70%.
UK Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance said vaccines that were easier to
store and deploy, like the Oxford/AstraZeneca shot, would play a key role.
Britain hopes for regulatory approval of that vaccine in the next couple of
weeks.
'DECISIVE TURNING POINT'
Britain approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for emergency use less than a week
ago, and is rolling it out ahead of the United States and European Union, from
which it will finally part ways at the end of the year.
The Brexit transition period ends on Dec. 31, and there is the possibility of
chaos at ports, with military aircraft on standby to step-in.
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is being imported from Belgium, while the UK
Vaccines Taskforce said initial supplies of the AstraZeneca/Oxford shot were
being shipped from Germany.
"Of course, it adds complexity to the process," Steve Bates, chief executive of
the BioIndustry Association, told reporters of the possible impact of Brexit.
"But there is a robust plan for alternative routes and mitigation."
In total Britain has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech shot. As
each person requires two doses, that is enough to vaccinate 20 million people in
the country of 67 million.
The country has ordered 357 million doses of seven different COVID-19 vaccines
in all.
"The deployment of this vaccine marks a decisive turning point in the battle
with the pandemic," said Simon Stevens, head of the publicly funded NHS health
service.
(Reporting by Alistair Smout; Additional reporting by Sarah Young and Kate
Holton; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Pravin Char)
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