Oxford Vaccine

[DrivingHelpMe]

I’ve awoken to the news that my area is to go into a local lockdown. This has really affected my mental health. I’m feeling pretty down about the whole thing. I’m not ready for another six months of this.

I have been pinning my hopes on the Oxford vaccine. Does anyone have any idea when it might be ready or we might have some news? Google seems uncertain!

Sorry, OP, but it's going to be quite some time before any vaccine is in place. On the positive side, the Oxford trials have resumed now after pausing for a while due to one of the participants becoming unwell.

I'm sorry that you're finding it difficult. Hopefully your area won't stay locked down for too long.

Optimistic views are that we may get a vaccine approved just before the end of the test or early next year. Then it will take months to roll out, with most of the population not getting it until mid 2021. Although once the vulnerable get it presumably we can open up so may start to see less restrictions early next year hopefully.

As soon as they can. Which is the length of a piece of string.

We all want a safe vaccine, don't care where it comes from. Don't care if it's like a flu jab you have yearly. Don't really care if it just lessens severe symptoms rather than full inoculation.

But do care that it's safe and effective.

I think the best way to handle this is to assume the vaccine will only be ready for next autumn/winter (i.e. 2021).

Everything I've heard seems to mention spring next year when things will start to look better, whether that's because of a vaccine or the natural course of the pandemic eases by then I don't know but that's what I'm pinning my hopes on. Just need to get through winter.