Covid vaccine hub list unveiled by NHS as preparations for roll out continue

The first doses of the approved coronavirus vaccine, by Pfizer and BioNTech, are due to arrive in the UK as the country battles with logistical challenges in administering it to those at the top of the priority list.

The Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will be coordinating the vaccine hub for the North East which as confirmed by a letter to trusts from Emily Lawson, NHS England’s chief commercial officer, and Sue Harriman, chief operating officer of the Covid-19 vaccination deployment programme last month.

At this time no exact details have been announced on how, where and when the vaccine will be administered in the region.

The Government previously confirmed it was considering using Nightingale Hospital, including the site in Washington, as a mass vaccination centre.

The 460-bed hospital, officially opened on May 5, was intended as an overflow facility in the event that the number of patients with Covid-19 became too high for the region’s hospitals to treat.

It has always been treated as an ‘insurance policy’ and has not yet admitted a patient.

When will the vaccine roll-out begin?

The UK became the first country in the world to give the go-ahead to the vaccine, paving the way for vaccinations to start next week.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the Pfizer and BioNTech jab for use in the country as part of a major breakthrough in the battle against the virus.

The country has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer jab, enough to vaccinate 20 million people with two doses, given 21 days apart.

Issues surrounding storage temperature and how many times it can be transported have prompted the Prime Minister to warn of “immense logistical challenges” in the Pfizer rollout, with experts warning that people in care homes might face a delay in receiving immunisation from the disease.

According to studies, the vaccine has been shown to be 95% effective and works for all age groups.

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