The roll out of COVID-19 vaccines is a momentous development, and while there is still some way to go, it provides fresh hope that we can beat this pandemic.
Unfortunately, some harmful views about the vaccine have taken hold among a minority of the public. This ranges from concerns about the safety of the vaccine to some fairly extreme conspiracy theories.
I can assure you that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has followed rigorous procedures to ensure the vaccines meet high standards to be both safe and effective. The MHRA is one of the most respected regulators in the world
Any coronavirus vaccine that is approved must go through extensive clinical trials and safety checks.
So far, thousands of people have received a COVID-19 vaccine with no long-term complications reported.
As the son of a doctor and a pharmacist, I know the real stresses and strains that the NHS is under. The fastest way to relieve that pressure, save lives, and get our economy and society back to normal, is for us all to take the vaccine when it is our turn.
It is safe, it has been rigorously and independently tested, and is the best example of British science and research. Let’s get vaccinated and bring our communities back together.