Boris Johnson has appointed Tory minister Nadhim Zahawi to oversee the deployment of the coronavirus vaccine. The move, announced by Downing Street this morning, comes after hospital bosses were reportedly told a jab could be available in just nine days time.
NHS staff are expected to be the first people to be given the vaccine, with officials saying hospitals in England might get their first deliveries of the Pfizer-BionTech jab around December 7.
This vaccine, which was initially found to be 95% effective, needs to be stored at extremely low temperatures - presenting a logistical challenge in distributing it safely.