Hackney,
04
December
2020
|
16:32
Europe/London

Country-wide coronavirus vaccination programme coming soon

The Government has recently announced plans to roll out a country-wide coronavirus vaccination programme. 

This is the result of the hard work of thousands of scientists across the world, rigorous testing and clinical trials and, finally, approval of vaccines by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). 

 

Dr Sandra Husbands, Director of Public Health
Over the past year everyone has witnessed what happens to the world when a pandemic hits. People have been unable to see and hug loved ones, to go to work or school, or run their businesses and, worst of all, many of us have lost family and friends. 

COVID-19 has been devastating, but we have learnt a lot about how to protect ourselves by social distancing and how to better treat people with COVID-19 illness. Now we have one of the most powerful tools against the virus – a highly effective vaccine. Although we still need to take precautions to prevent the virus from spreading, having the vaccine is the most effective way of protecting people from the serious impacts of COVID infection.

So, if the NHS offers you or a loved one the COVID vaccine then please do take up the offer. To start with, the vaccine will be used to protect the most vulnerable, such as older people in care homes. While the vaccine is a welcome breakthrough, we must continue to practice hands, face, space and stick to the coronavirus guidance.
Dr Sandra Husbands, Director of Public Health

More details on the vaccination programme, including where and how to get the vaccination and the order in which different groups will receive the vaccine will be announced soon. Keep up to date with this by signing up to the Council’s newsletter at www.hackney.gov.uk/newsletters.