First patient to receive Oxford Covid jab given vaccine in major breakthrough

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A British man has become the first patient in the world to be given the Oxford coronavirus vaccine.

Brian Pinker, a dialysis patient from Oxford, was given the jab at Oxford University Hospital on Monday morning.

The second vaccine was approved for use in the UK last week, developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca.

The "game-changing" jab has provided hope for millions as the government has secured 100 million doses, to vaccinate 50 million people.

Its storage has given it an advantage as compared to the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine – it can be stored at a fridge temperature for at least six months.

An extensive rapid roll-out programme has been set in place across Britain for the newly approved jab.

The NHS is the first health service in the world to deploy the vaccine, which was approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) last week.

It has been labelled "game-changing" as it can be stored in a temperature between 2C and 8C, the Pfizer vaccine which is already being deployed in the UK needs to be stored at -70C.

  • First people will receive Oxford University/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine today

The positive news comes amid concerns Brits could face another national lockdown.

Health experts have warned the country will only go back to "normality" by the summer if herd immunity is achieved, which requires two million people to be vaccinated per week.

In a bid to help out in the vaccination programme, high-street stores such as Boots and Tesco have announced plans to assist in the roll-out.

  • Children aged 12-16 'seven times more likely to spread Covid' warns expert

Boots have announced vaccination sites in Halifax, Huddersfield and Gloucester – with plans for more sites to open soon.

So far around one million people have been vaccinated in the UK with the Pfizer jab, according to Sky News.

This is equivalent to 250,000 doses administered per week.

  • Coronavirus

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