Covid UK news – live: Oxford vaccine ‘90% effective’ as Boris Johnson to announce post-lockdown Christmas plan
The Covid-19 vaccine being developed by Oxford University is up to 90 per cent effective, a large-scale trial has suggested ahead of an assessment by regulators.
The UK’s most promising immunisation, which was developed in partnership with drug firm AstraZeneca, was found overall to have an efficacy of 70.4 per cent – stopping fewer people from developing Covid symptoms than those made by Pfizer and Moderna which showed around 95 per cent protection.
The UK has placed orders for 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine – enough to vaccinate most of the population – with rollout expected in the coming weeks if the jab is approved.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is expected to announce the UK’s post-lockdown Christmas plan this afternoon in a speech at the House of Commons, before giving a televised address to the public this evening.
The prime minister is expected to confirm mass testing and a strengthened three-tier system as the country prepares to ease out of lockdown on 2 December. Some restrictions on pubs, restaurants, non-essential shops and gyms are also expected to relax.
The Independent UK
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