First Covid-19 Vaccine Approved For Use Across The UK

The announcement that the first Covid-19 vaccine has been approved for widespread use has been welcomed as a "hugely significant day for Northern Ireland" by Health Minister Robin Swann.

The approval for the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine has been issued by the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). A number of other vaccines are at various stages of development while another is currently being considered by MHRA.

It is planned to roll-out vaccination from this month, with the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) determining which population groups will receive the vaccine first. Completion of roll-out will take up much of 2021.

Health and social care workers – including care home staff - will be amongst the first priority groups as will care home residents. Further groups will then be added to the programme throughout 2021 based on age and clinical vulnerability factors.

The Health Minister said: "My department has plans and preparations in place to begin the roll-out. This is a hugely significant day for Northern Ireland and the news we were hoping for before Christmas. My thanks go to all those who have worked so hard to make it possible.

"It needs to be remembered that the vaccination process will be a major and long-running logistical exercise. Our rate of progress will depend on available supplies that will be distributed as part of a UK-wide programme.

"We will all need to be patient and allow the priority groups to receive their vaccination first.

"This is not the end of the Coronavirus nightmare but it should represent the beginning of the end."

Mr Swann added: "I need to urge everyone to remain ultra-vigilant in the months ahead as each of us patiently await our turn. It is essential that we keep taking all the steps required to protect each other and stop the virus spreading.

"This does not mean that restrictions on our daily lives will be able to disappear anytime soon. There is still a very tough winter ahead for our health service and society.

"We need to think of vaccination as a long trek to freedom.

"Let's all of us across Northern Ireland carry each other through this winter, doing all we can to ensure as many people as possible get to enjoy Christmas and live to see a better New Year."