The UK has become the first country in the World to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for use. Studies have shown the Pfizer jab is 95% effective and works in all age groups, and the government has secured 40 million doses of the vaccine with 10 million doses expected in the UK by the end of the year.
The government's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has confirmed its priority list for the first phase of the UK's mass vaccine rollout.
The priority list for the first phase is as follows:
1 - Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
2 - All those aged 80 and over. Frontline health and social care workers
3 - All those aged 75 and over
4 - All those aged 70 and over. Clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
5 - All those aged 65 and over
6 - All individuals aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
7 - All those aged 60 and over
8 - All those aged 55 and over
9 - All those aged 50 and over
For more information on the considerations for the priority groups, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-2-december-2020/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-2-december-2020
The NHS has begun vaccinating patients against coronavirus at dozens of hospital hubs from the 8th of December at the start of the biggest immunisation programme in history.
There are "three modes of delivery" of the vaccine. These are hospital hubs, mass vaccination centres and GPs and pharmacists offering the jab to those most in need.
There are 50 hospital hubs in the first wave and more hospitals will start vaccinating over the coming weeks and months as the programme ramps up. The hospital hub closest to Selby & Ainsty is Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
You can find the full list of hospital hubs here.
More information on the mass vaccination centres and GPs and vaccination centres will be released in the coming weeks.