First doses of UK coronavirus vaccine will be given to human volunteers on Thursday

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THE first doses of Britain’s coronavirus vaccine will be given to human volunteers on Thursday, the Government has revealed.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that a jab which has been developed by Oxford University will start being tested in just two days.

Speaking at the Downing Street press briefing, he said: “The vaccine from the Oxford project will be trialed in people from this Thursday.

“I am certain that we will throw everything we’ve got at developing a vaccine.
“The UK is at the forefront of the global effort – we’ve put in more money than any other into the global search for a vaccine.”

Last week Sarah Gilbert, a professor of vaccinology who is leading the team, said a vaccine could be available for use by the general public by the autumn.

She said: “Personally, I have a high degree of confidence. And, I think, it has a very strong chance of working.”

Asked when the first dose of the vaccine might be delivered to a trial volunteer, chief investigator Professor Andrew Pollard said it depended on when the last part of the testing from the manufacturing ended.

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It comes after figures revealed that less than half of the available coronavirus testing capacity has been used, leaving the Government facing an uphill battle to meet its 100,000 a day target.

Downing Street insisted Boris Johnson – who is continuing his recovery from Covid-19 – had full confidence in Health Secretary Matt Hancock but the Government has come under fire over both its testing programme and the availability of vital equipment for health staff.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health confirmed a total of 17,337 patients have died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Monday – up by 828 from 16,509 the day before.

The Government remains committed to the goal of carrying out 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month, but fewer than 20,000 were conducted in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday.

That is despite there being capacity for 39,250 tests to have been carried out over the same period.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the Government was “absolutely standing by the target”.

“We are increasing capacity, clearly we need to make sure that capacity is being used and that’s what we are working on,” he said.

Some 19,316 coronavirus tests were carried out in England, Wales and Scotland in the 24 hours up to 9am on Monday.

Asked about the gap in testing capacity and tests conducted, the PM’s spokesman said: “Ministers have been very clear that any spare capacity should be used to test NHS and social care staff and their families.

“As a result of the increased capacity which we have available, other critical care workers can now also get tests so that they can continue their vital work on the frontline.”

PPE delays

Meanwhile, a shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) – including 400,000 badly-needed surgical gowns – remains in Turkey despite the presence of an RAF plane on stand-by to bring it to the UK.

The Government said, meanwhile, that 140,000 gowns had arrived from Burma – but with the NHS using 150,000 a day, the demand on resources remains intense.

The PM’s spokesman blamed “unprecedented demand for PPE globally” for some of the difficulties faced by the UK and other countries.

“There are challenges in the supply of PPE, there have been problems in ensuring that PPE gets to the right place at the right time,” he acknowledged.

“It’s the job of Government to get PPE to staff in NHS and care sectors and we are working hard to do so.”

With fears that staff in hospitals and care homes are risking their lives, the TUC called for an independent inquiry into the Government’s handling of the issue to be mounted before the end of the year.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “This is a grotesque failure of planning and preparedness.”