Dr Neil Hudson, the MP for Penrith and the Border, has welcomed the news that a vaccine has been authorised for use in the UK.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has formally authorised the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and it could be rolled out as early as next week.
Dr Hudson said: “This is one step closer to the normality which I’m sure all of my constituents long for and presents a light at the end of the tunnel.
“Even though this is welcome progress, we must still be vigilant in abiding by the local restrictions in our area.
“Today marks the first day of Cumbria being under Tier 2 restrictions or ‘high alert’ the latest Government guidance.
“If we keep to the guidelines, we can keep combating the virus and hopefully a move to Tier 1 in Cumbria could be possible. It is as important as ever to wash your hands, cover your face and give others space.”
The order in which people should receive the vaccine are:
- Residents in care homes for older adults and their carers
- All those 80 and over and frontline health and social care workers
- All those 75 and over
- All those 70 and over and clinically extreme vulnerable individuals
- All those 65 and over
- All those aged 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
- All those 60 and over
- All those 55 and over
- All those 50 and over
