fbpx
Connect with us
https://propermanchester.com.temp.link/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/secret-suppers-advert.jpg

News

NHS ready to start vaccinating ‘early next week’ as Pfizer vaccine approved in UK

BREAKING.

Avatar photo

Published

on

Dimitri Houtteman & Daniel Schludi/Unsplash

The Pfizer vaccine has been approved for use and a mass vaccination programme is set to begin ‘early next week’, making the UK the first western country to license a vaccine against Covid-19.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for use in the UK, with the first doses arriving in the coming days. 

The company reported that the vaccine had 94.5% efficacy in clinical trials. 

Health secretary, Matt Hancock has now tweeted that the NHS stands ‘ready to start vaccinating early next week’. 

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman 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.

“The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) will shortly also publish its latest advice for the priority groups to receive the vaccine, including care home residents, health and care staff, the elderly and the clinically extremely vulnerable.

“The vaccine will be made available across the UK from next week.”

Daniel Schludi/Unsplash

Hancock confirmed the first doses will be issued to the most vulnerable people and the UK will have 800,000 doses from next week.

He told Sky News: “This is fantastic news. The MHRA, the fiercely independent regulator, has clinically authorised the vaccine for rollout. The NHS stands ready to make that happen.

“From early next week we will start the programme of vaccinating people against Covid-19 here in this country. The MHRA have approved it as clinically safe and we have a vaccine, so it’s very good news.”

He added that rolling the vaccine out across the UK has its challenges as the vaccine needs to be kept at -70C. 50 hospitals are ready to deliver the jabs and specialist vaccination centres are being built, he added. 

In terms of who will be getting the vaccine first, Hancock said old people and those in care homes including staff will be first in line. After that, it ‘essentially comes down the age range, NHS staff are also high on that priority list and also the clinically extremely vulnerable’.

He added: “The goal will be to vaccinate through the NHS right across the UK as rapidly as the company can manufacture. It will help save lives. Once we’ve protected the most vulnerable it will help us all get back to normal and back to some of the things that we love.”

Speaking to BBC News, Hancock indicated that by Easter next year the country could return to some normality and that no restrictions would be needed in summer 2021.

He said: “So many families have suffered, including my own. I’m just so, so pleased … 2020 has been just awful and 2021 is going to be better. Help is on its way. Help is on its way with this vaccine – and we can now say that with certainty rather than with all the caveats that normally have to put around that.

“I’m confident now, with the news today, that from spring – from Easter onwards – things are going to be better. We’re going to have a summer next year that everybody can enjoy. Between now and then we’ve got to hold our resolve.”

Albert Bourla, the chairman and chief executive officer of Pfizer added: “Today’s emergency use authorisation in the UK marks a historic moment in the fight against Covid-19.

“This authorisation is a goal we have been working toward since we first declared that science will win, and we applaud the MHRA for their ability to conduct a careful assessment and take timely action to help protect the people of the UK.”

Delivery of the UK’s 40 million doses is expected to start immediately and will continue throughout 2020 and 2021 in stages.

“The emergency use authorisation in the UK will mark the first time citizens outside of the trials will have the opportunity to be immunised against Covid-19,” said Ugur Sahin, the CEO and co-founder of BioNTech.

“We believe that the rollout of the vaccination programme in the UK will reduce the number of people in the high-risk population being hospitalised. Our aim is to bring a safe and effective vaccine upon approval to the people who need it.

“The data submitted to regulatory agencies around the world are the result of a scientifically rigorous and highly ethical research and development programme.”

News

Woman tragically dies in Manchester petrol station incident

Emergency services attended the scene but the woman was sadly confirmed dead

Avatar photo

Published

on

Google Maps

An elderly woman has died following a crash at a petrol station in Manchester.

Officers believe the woman, who was in her 70s, suffered a medical episode while at the wheel of her car when she crashed into a small brick wall.

She had been trying to drive the Nissan Micra off the forecourt of the Asda petrol station in Moston Lane, Harpurhey, at approximately 10.45am on Wednesday, March 22nd.

Emergency services attended the scene but the woman was sadly confirmed dead. Greater Manchester Police have appealed for any witnesses to help them.

Google Maps

A section of stretch of road, near the junction with Rochdale Road, was closed for a number of hours while emergency services dealt with the incident. Paramedics and two air ambulances were seen.

Anyone with information or on the forecourt at the time of the incident should contact police on 0161 856 4741 quoting log 1103-22/3/2023.

Information can also be reported online or by using the LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk. If you can’t report online, call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Continue Reading

News

‘Postbox to heaven’ now installed at Greater Manchester crematorium

Such a lovely idea!

Avatar photo

Published

on

Howe Bridge Crematorium / Facebook

A postbox allowing people to send letters to their loved ones in heaven has now been installed at a Greater Manchester crematorium.

The white and gold Royal Mail letterbox can be found at Howe Bridge crematorium in Atherton, Wigan Borough. It was the idea of nine-year-old Matilda Handy who wanted to send a letter to her late grandparents to help her cope with the grief of her loss.

The first was set-up at Gedling Crematorium, near Nottingham, and proved a popular concept with over 100 letters and cards posted within its first few weeks. Speaking to Granada Reports, Matilda’s mother Leanne, who is Gedling Crematorium’s Memorial Advisor, said: “She was four when my mum died, and never met my dad.

“Now the postbox is in place, I am so pleased that local people are using it, and taking some comfort from it, as another way of feeling connected to their loved ones.”

Howe Bridge Crematorium / Facebook

UK crematorium and cemetery operator, Westerleigh Group is now rolling out the postboxes across all of its sites.

Lindsey Edwardson, Site Manager at Howe Bridge Crematorium, said: “Feedback has shown that the process of writing a letter, or perhaps a birthday card, to a lost loved one has already brought therapeutic comfort to many people.

“Now, the communities in and around our crematorium can do the same thing. No address or stamps are required on any of the letters or cards. This is just another way in which we can provide emotional support to local families.”

Granada Reports / ITV

A post on the Howe Bridge Crematorium Facebook page read: “We are proud to announce the official opening of our Letters to Heaven Post Box. Our thanks go to Alison Regan Civil Funeral Celebrant for her beautiful service to commemorate its opening.

“For all those who wish, you can post a letter to your loved ones that are no longer with us at the Post Box.”

 

Continue Reading

News

Woman with undiagnosed brain tumour had to visit doctors nine times to get scan

Doctors told her if she had not had the surgery within a few hours or days then it could have been a different story

Avatar photo

Published

on

Claudia Laird / ITV

A woman with an undiagnosed brain tumour who was told ‘we don’t give out brain scans to 24-year-olds willy nilly’ is now campaigning for change.

Claudia Laird, from Burnley, went to see a medical professional on nine occasions as she tried to get to the bottom of why she felt so unwell. One week later, she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. 

Claudia told ITV Granada Reports: “I think the initial reaction was trusting of the GP. I was in shock after, because I found out I definitely needed that brain scan.

“It was all quite quick – they weren’t sure what was on the brain at first. It was all up in the air.

“I can’t believe I went through that.
We were just waiting for the doctors to tell us the outcome. It was challenging, but more so looking back on it now. At the time, you don’t know the outcome.”

Claudia Laird / ITV

Claudia was experiencing symptoms of confusion, hallucinations and fatigue. But doctors put it down to what they thought to be gastroenteritis. After discovering the tumour, Claudia had to then undergo an eight-hour operation. 

Doctors told her if she had not had the surgery within a few hours or days then it could have been a different story. She said: “I was asleep all the time. My friends would call me lazy. I thought it was because I was working long hours.

“I walked into a window thinking it was a door. I spent a night in bed with my mum and dad because I was hallucinating.”

Claudia is now training to be a paediatrician, to give people the same level of care. After the difficulty she had in getting diagnosed, Claudia has decided she does not want the same mistakes to happen to someone else.

Granada Reports / ITV

Claudia said: “We need everybody to understand the difficulty of getting that diagnosis. It took me over nine times to get that diagnosis. I went to opticians, GP and A&E just to push to say ‘I really don’t think something is right here’.

“I want to see some changes, some research, funding into brain tumours. 1% of cancer research goes into brain tumours.”

The NHS lists the symptoms of a brain tumour as:

  • headaches.
  • seizures (fits)
  • persistently feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting) and drowsiness.
  • mental or behavioural changes, such as memory problems or changes in personality.
  • progressive weakness or paralysis on one side of the body.
  • vision or speech problems.

Continue Reading

Receive our latest news, events & unique stories

Privacy and data policy

We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase

Copyright © 2023 Manchester's Finest Group