UK is Reportedly Rolling Out Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine from 4 Jan 2021

Over the years, the term “Oxford” has become synonymous with our grades.

Bamboozled by a particular word? Oxford dictionary.

Starved of aspirations? Oxford University.

A bullish fan of Harrison Ford? Ox-Ford.

And the list, as a Wise Old Man would probably put it, goes on and on.

Yet, it appears that Oxford is at it again. And this time around, it’s out to save the day…

With its own line of vaccines, which is due to roll out in the UK from 4 Jan onwards.

UK is Reportedly Rolling Out Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine from 4 Jan

The United Kingdom is expected to release Oxford University’s Covid-19 vaccine from 4 January onwards.

The rollout is reportedly in accordance with plans drawn up by ministers.

Termed the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, it’s reportedly easier to store and handle than the Pfizer jab.

The Oxford vaccine is also more affordable, and is purportedly just as effective as the other mainstream ones.

“We think we have figured out the winning formula and how to get efficacy that, after two doses, is up there with everybody else,” the chief executive of AstraZeneca told The Sunday Times. “I can’t tell you more because we will publish at some point.”

The UK Government has purchased 100 million jabs thus far, with 40 million set to be issued by March 2021.

Allaying Fears In The UK

Lest you’re unaware, the UK has been dealing with a spate of infections in recent times – a notion fueled by a new strain of Covid-19, which is supposedly 70% more contagious than the norm.

As such, fears are mounting that a harsher nationwide lockdown may be required, unless jabs can be distributed at a faster pace.

In light of the situation, the government has established a private aim to release the first dose of both vaccines – Pfizer and Oxford – to two million people in England.

Numbers are expected to accelerate, though supply may prove constraining.

“We are deploying as fast as we get the stuff in,” a Whitehall insider said on Saturday night. “The constraint is supply, not deployment.

“The protocol around Pfizer is really difficult, but with AstraZeneca it’s much easier, it’s like the flu vaccine.”

The Oxford jab will be delivered to mass vaccination centers, including sports hall, stadiums and conference centres from the second week of January.

It will also be applied at 83 hospital hubs and an estimated 600 operational GPs.

Once supplies increase, the rollout will extend to primary care networks and community pharmacies.

Numbers

On 26 December 2020, the UK recorded 210 Covid-19 deaths – down from 570 on 25 December.

However, cases increased by 1,968 to 34,693.

Total death toll in the UK currently lies at 70,405, though a broader tally of deceased with Covid-19 on their death certificates stands at 79,349.

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