The MP for Lichfield and Burntwood says there is light at the end of “a very dark tunnel” following the latest coronavirus lockdown.

A national set of restrictions was introduced today (5th November).

The latest lockdown means non-essential shops have closed with people told to work from home where they can.

But despite the nation facing four weeks of restrictions, Conservative MP Michael Fabricant said there was hope on the horizon.

Michael Fabricant. Picture: UK Parliament
Michael Fabricant. Picture: UK Parliament

“There is now a very clear light at the end of the dark COVID tunnel – and that light is the gradual introduction of a vaccine that is expected imminently.

“Work with the UK Vaccine Taskforce is now very advanced. They have secured orders for 350 million doses of different vaccines, across a range of types, including six of the leading vaccines across the world.

“These includes the Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, both of which are currently in the final stages of phase 3 trials and are nearing completion.”

Michael Fabricant MP

Mr Fabricant added that steps were being taken to speed up the development of vaccines.

And he revealed that he had volunteered to take part in trials.

“Around 300,000 people have now signed up to register their interest in taking part in vaccine trials – including myself.

“The taskforce is pioneering controlled human challenge studies which involves volunteers being deliberately infected with COVID-19 after they have been vaccinated.

“Subject to ethics and regulatory approvals, these trials can assess and accelerate the development of effective vaccines more quickly and with fewer participants than standard phase 3 trials. 

“The Government has now funded several UK manufacturing sites to ensure there is no manufacturing bottleneck in developing a vaccine.

“This includes a £93million investment to open the UK’s first dedicated Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre, 12 months ahead of schedule, and an additional £38million for a virtual manufacturing centre, which already has two fully equipped and approved manufacturing suites.

“The logistics in vaccinating our population is immense. At first those most vulnerable to infection, including those working on the front line in the NHS, will be vaccinated. 

“But as more and more of the population are vaccinated and become immune or less susceptible to COVID-19, we can all begin to return to a more normal life.”

Michael Fabricant MP

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.

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Anon
3 years ago

Mr Fabricant you such a hero… shame you can’t say the same for starving kids you voted against and standing up for Dominic Cummings….

AgitatorofPeople
3 years ago

So to be brief, lockdown=bad, a story about vaccines with no specific, measurable timetable, £big pounds to develop, more big pounds, I’m a self sacrificing hero and we all live happily ever after.
It’s like Jackanory, but boring.
How about for your next fluff piece you try “I will vote to feed hungry kids because that’s what decent people in a decent society want”.

Kitty
3 years ago

Mr Fabricant – ya-de-ya-de-ya…
Whatever…

Congratulations to Joe Biden, Karmala Harris & Democrats in the US on their historic victory this evening and I can only hope the common sense approach he’s shown over decades to reach across divides will influence the current Farage party, sorry, typo, conservative govt, for the better.

Michael Souris
3 years ago

Michael – congratulations on persuading the Prime Minister to u-turn on school meals! Your influencing skills know no bounds – not!

How do you feel about the 17th u-turn by your government? Must stick in the craw when you have diligently followed Party policy and then it changes its mind when people criticise.

When will the next change of heart take place??

paul
3 years ago

The lore of large numbers
Michael Fabricant has attempted to cosh us with large numbers, this is
almost the only answer the government has to any policy challenge.
However we have all listened to More or Less and can now count so let’s
get this in perspective. There are 66.3 million people in the UK so £1
million is less than 2 pence per head, there are 27.8 million
households so £1 billion is less than 10% of what households spend on
alcoholic drink each year. It is not the size that matters Michael, it
is how it is used. Giving large sums to pals and the wives of pals to
spend does not constitute a satisfactory strategy in normal times let
alone in a pandemic.