Matt Hancock On COVID-19 Vaccine: "We’re Going To Have A Summer Next Year That Everybody Can Enjoy"

After pondering last month that festivals and big shows could hopefully make a return after Easter next year, Matt Hancock has now announced that the UK can look forward to a summer of normality in 2021 following the approval of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine.

Speaking with BBC Breakfast earlier today (December 2), the Health Secretary enthused of this hugely promising and exciting breakthrough: "2020 has been just awful and 2021 is going to better. Help is on its way with its vaccine. We can now say that with certainty, as opposed to all the caveats that I usually have to put around that."

He explained that the vaccine "will take time to roll out" with the UK having ordered 40 million doses (which is enough to cover 20 million people). The two jabs – which offer up to 95 per cent protection according to The MHRA – have to be taken with 21 days in between, and vulnerable and elderly patients should be able to start getting immunised within the next few days.

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"We have got to get this rolled out at the speed it can be manufactured but I am confident now with the news today that from spring, from Easter onwards things are going to be better," Matt Hancock continued. "We are going to have a summer next year that everybody can enjoy."

In a statement regarding the Pfizer vaccine, a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care said: "The Government has today accepted the recommendation from the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to approve Pfizer/BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for use. This follows months of rigorous clinical trials and a thorough analysis of the data by experts at the MHRA who have concluded that the vaccine has met its strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness."

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