College welcomes approval of Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the UK

30 Dec 2020

Our College welcomes the news of the approval of the Astra Zeneca vaccine as announced today (Wednesday 30th December) in the UK. It brings new hope at the end of a long, difficult year. The AZ vaccine will be a game changer and will allow greater numbers of people to be vaccinated in a shorter time frame. Time is now of the essence.

The NHS remains on an emergency footing and is facing unprecedented challenges as it manages a huge surge in the number of coronavirus cases. The new variant of Covid 19 is much more transmissible. So in the meantime, until a high proportion of the population is vaccinated, social distancing measures are of even greater importance in reducing community transmission. We urge everyone to keep 2m apart, wear a face covering, wash your hands, do not travel unless for essential purposes and spend New Year at home. Only by following these restrictions can the public protect themselves, their communities and our NHS.