This week has been extremely tough adjusting to the realities of a second national lockdown, but we have been given hope thanks to incredible work from scientists across the globe.
Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech announced on Monday the coronavirus vaccine which they have been working all hours to develop has showed it could prevent more than 90 per cent of people from getting Covid.
These early findings are nothing short of remarkable and is cause for optimism for a return to normality – perhaps in Spring 2021.
However, as the Prime Minister made clear on Monday evening, this fantastic news cannot detract from the challenge we face over the next three weeks. This action will surpress this second wave and we hope to enhance mass testing and have a vaccine available to avoid another lockdown.
These companies are applying for emergency approval of this vaccine and the UK has already ordered 40 million doses - enough to vaccinate up to 20 million people. These numbers are stark and remind us what a feat it would be to have an approved vaccine so quickly for such a new virus which has caused such devastation across the world.
The Armed Forces will be involved in the logistics of the administration of this vaccine. And I am confident their professionalism and dedication will, as ever, be an inspiration. We are grateful for their efforts supporting local councils and the NHS to deliver this vital testing which will help us get back to work, our students stay in education and protect communities to tackle the spread of the virus.
I am very proud to be working with our servicemen and women to help deliver this and I hope this news will make such a difference across the country and, of course, to all those in the Wells Constituency.
