Britain gears up for V-Day inoculation rollout as row breaks out over vaccine cards


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The UK is nearing the start of the biggest immunisation campaign in its history.

The world's first rollout of the Pifzer-BioNTech vaccine will begin on Tuesday – an occasion Health Secretary Matt Hancock called V-Day.

The rollout comes as the threat of a no-deal Brexit increases by the hour with Britain and the EU struggling to strike a new trade deal.

The deadlock could threaten the supply of the vaccine because the nearest Pfizer manufacturing plant to the UK is in Belgium. The government reportedly has military flights on standby in case negotiations collapse and new rules cause border chaos from January 1.

Asked whether the armed forces would be used to help transport the vaccine to the UK, Foreign Office minister James Cleverly told BBC Breakfast: "Potentially – we are looking at non-commercial flight options."

Mr Cleverly also confirmed Britons would be handed a Covid-19 vaccination card to show they have been inoculated against the disease. The confirmation comes a week after the government denied that the cards would be required to gain entry to restaurants and bars.

There are fears some businesses may give preferential treatment to customers who have received a vaccine.

Tory MPs have previously criticised vaccine passports as "coercion" and a restriction of civil liberties.

Pressed on whether the cards were in fact a passport, Mr Cleverly told Sky News: “It’s about unlocking people’s lives, it’s about unlocking the economy, it’s about making sure we protect lives and protect livelihoods.”

A card which will be given to patients following their Covid-19 vaccine shot. Bloomberg
A card which will be given to patients following their Covid-19 vaccine shot. Bloomberg

First in line to receive the vaccine are people aged 80 and over, care home workers and frontline staff in the NHS, who are considered at higher risk. The government also wants to prioritise elderly residents in care homes but is running into technical challenges in administering doses away from hospitals, given the need for ultra-low storage temperatures.

A special network of GPs and pharmacists will begin vaccinating patients from December 14. The government expects that the majority of vulnerable people will be vaccinated in January and February.

Meanwhile, a leading scientist said on Monday that the country could experience a “severe peak” of infections in January if social distancing was ignored. Prof Andrew Hayward of University College London said he was concerned about scenes of crowded high streets and shopping centres.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We still have the winter to get through, which is likely to be the time that is most favourable for Covid transmission.

“We could still see a very severe peak, particularly in January, when I predict that would be most likely if we take our foot off the pedal on this. And that would be so sad considering we’re going to be in a stage where we can protect the most vulnerable during December, January, February and start to get back to normal in late spring, early summer.”

At Croydon hospital at the weekend, a lab technician lifted a package of doses out of dry ice in a box storing the vaccine at minus 70°C, and transferred the batch to a special freezer.

"To know that they are here, and we are among the first in the country to actually receive the vaccine and therefore the first in the world, is just amazing, I'm so proud," said Louise Coughlan, joint chief pharmacist at the Croydon hospital trust.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be administered in two doses, three weeks apart. Britain's initial batch will cover 400,000 people, and the government has another 40 million doses ordered. It hopes for many more from other drug companies, including a leading candidate from the Oxford University-AstraZeneca partnership still being evaluated.

Approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is expected later this month in the US and EU.

National Health Service medical director Stephen Powis said Britain's rollout would be a "marathon not a sprint", with the government sequencing priority groups by age and health condition. The vaccine is not expected to reach younger groups until spring or summer 2021.

"Despite the huge complexities, hospitals will kick-start the first phase of the largest-scale vaccination campaign in our country's history from Tuesday," Dr Powis said. "Hardworking staff will once again rise to the challenge to protect the most vulnerable people from this awful disease."

The Queen, 94, and Prince Philip, 99, are reportedly in line to receive the shot early in the rollout because of their age. Britain's most senior royals will also convey to the public that they have been given the inoculations "as a powerful counter to the anti-vaccination movement", The Times reported.

Monty Python star Michael Palin, 77, campaigning singer Bob Geldof, 69, and 73-year-old Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones also committed publicly to getting the vaccine in a drive to boost take-up.

A YouGov poll of more than 5,300 people published last Wednesday indicated 27 per cent of people were "very confident" about the safety of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine; 43 per cent were "somewhat confident"; 11 per cent "not very confident"; and 9 per cent "not confident at all".

Just under half (44 per cent) opposed compulsory vaccination, while more than a third (37 per cent) backed the idea.

MATCH DETAILS

Chelsea 4 

Jorginho (4 pen, 71 pen), Azpilicueta (63), James (74)

Ajax 4

Abraham (2 og), Promes (20). Kepa (35 og), van de Beek (55) 

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Always use only regulated platforms

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Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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Starring: Alaa Meqdad

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Transmission: 9-speed auto

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South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (w), JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen.

Afghanistan fixtures
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  • v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
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  • v South Africa, June 15
  • v England, June 18
  • v India, June 22
  • v Bangladesh, June 24
  • v Pakistan, June 29
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All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm

Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm

Sunday, October 1
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Abu Dhabi Harlequins 17

Jebel Ali Dragons 20

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Moment of the day Given the problems Sri Lanka have had in recent times, it was apt the winning catch was taken by Dinesh Chandimal. He is one of seven different captains Sri Lanka have had in just the past two years. He leads in understated fashion, but by example. His century in the first innings of this series set the shock win in motion.

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Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017

Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free

Fixtures - Open Men 2pm: India v New Zealand, Malaysia v UAE, Singapore v South Africa, Sri Lanka v England; 8pm: Australia v Singapore, India v Sri Lanka, England v Malaysia, New Zealand v South Africa

Fixtures - Open Women Noon: New Zealand v England, UAE v Australia; 6pm: England v South Africa, New Zealand v Australia

UAE squad

Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont

Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950

Engine 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox Eight-speed automatic

Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm

Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km

ATP WORLD No 1

2004 Roger Federer

2005 Roger Federer

2006 Roger Federer

2007 Roger Federer

2008 Rafael Nadal

2009 Roger Federer

2010 Rafael Nadal

2011 Novak Djokovic

2012 Novak Djokovic

2013 Rafael Nadal

2014 Novak Djokovic

2015 Novak Djokovic

2016 Andy Murray

2017 Rafael Nadal

2018 Novak Djokovic

2019 Rafael Nadal

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Gulf Under 19s final

Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B

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Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

MATCH INFO

Karnatake Tuskers 114-1 (10 ovs)

Charles 57, Amla 47

Bangla Tigers 117-5 (8.5 ovs)

Fletcher 40, Moores 28 no, Lamichhane 2-9

Bangla Tiger win by five wickets

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO

Mumbai Indians 186-6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 183-5 (20 ovs)

Mumbai Indians won by three runs

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  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29

The specs: 2018 Honda City

Price, base: From Dh57,000
Engine: 1.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 118hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 146Nm @ 4,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km

MATCH INFO

Bangla Tigers 108-5 (10 ovs)

Ingram 37, Rossouw 26, Pretorius 2-10

Deccan Gladiators 109-4 (9.5 ovs)

Watson 41, Devcich 27, Wiese 2-15

Gladiators win by six wickets