'Public patience has worn thin...the Covid-19 vaccine is the news we have all been waiting for'

Three cheers for BioNTech/Pfizer who have so quickly developed the Covid-19 vaccine we have all been waiting for.

We have turned a corner at last or, as Churchill famously said: “Perhaps this is the end of the beginning”.

I jolly well hope so!

It is well-timed good news because we Britons have been more than tolerant with the Government’s actions, lacking nuance while trying to blindside coronavirus.

Not surprisingly, I believe that public patience has worn thin now.

But it is no empty sound-bite when the Prime Minister says he has sanctioned the second lockdown so that the tiered system can be brought back at the beginning of December in time for Christmas.

And my rule of thumb for having any vaccine simply is this; if the risk from contracting the illness is potentially grave and the possible side-effect itself is satisfactorily small then it is for me and mine.

If we were able to have Christmas family gatherings, I would take appropriate precautions by going into isolation for 14 days afterwards to ensure I would not inadvertently add to the R number.

Let’s face it, Christmas is no longer only a religious festival – to most people Father Christmas, turkey and big family gatherings are just as important.

We really do need to have the wonderfulness of family round on Christmas Day to find a bit of joy in what has been an awful year.

Hugs for Christmas anyone?

Rosemary Twelftree

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