Caution needed despite new findings and booster order shot in arm for vaccine programme

“The findings of the latest Public Health England study give us another source of hope and offers reassurance that not only can vaccination reduce illness and death, but vitally, transmission too. Through the efforts of staff right across the NHS more than a quarter of all adults have now had two doses of a vaccine; in light of this these findings are of course extremely encouraging. Every vaccination delivered and milestone reached does indeed offer hope, hope further boosted by news that 60 million Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines have been secured for an Autumn booster programme.”

“However, we must not overestimate public protection against the virus and the tragic scenes in India remind us that no one and no country can be an island in tackling the pandemic. The best insurance policy is protection beyond borders. With new variants of the virus still spreading, there is still much we do not know about them, including whether or not the vaccines currently in use can effectively protect against them. Vaccination remains just one tool in our fight against the virus, and with questions over supply and workforce capacity, it is imperative that we all continue to do our bit, by maintaining social distancing, mask wearing and hand hygiene.”