Government must shore up business confidence ahead of COVID-19 vaccine rollout

03 Dec 2020

The government must take steps to shore up business confidence while mass coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations are rolled out, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

The UK has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, paving the way for mass vaccination. Britain's medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), says the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against COVID-19, is safe to be rolled out.

Because hospitals already have the facilities to store the vaccine at -70C as required, the very first vaccinations are likely to take place there – for care home staff, NHS staff and patients – so none of the vaccine is wasted.

Commenting on the rollout, Lord Karan Bilimoria, President of the CBI, said: 'The approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine represents a major breakthrough in our fightback against COVID-19.

'All parties deserve real credit for getting through the UK's rigorous approvals process at speed – making it the first country in the world to hit that important milestone. After the loss of so many lives and livelihoods, it really does feel like there's light at the end of the tunnel.'