It is with great pleasure, and relief, that I write this email to you on the momentous occasion of the UK being the first country in the world to approve a COVID-19 vaccine for use.

This week, the Government accepted the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) recommendations to authorise the PfizerBioNTech vaccine following strict quality, safety and effectiveness tests.

The link here contains an extensive Q & A about the vaccination programme, the vaccine itself and detail on the list of people for priority vaccination.

The vaccination programme will build up steadily in the weeks and months ahead and will gradually be extended to more and more people. We will have vaccination centres in Melton and Oakham. We have 40 million doses ordered for delivery - more than any other EU country and have procured 357 million doses in total from various vaccine suppliers. The vaccine will be available for free across the UK.

I have always said that that ultimately only a vaccine will make us triumphant in our war against COVID-19, however we must now be patient as the UK undergoes the huge endeavour of rolling out our vaccination program. While this process is ongoing, the virus will continue to spread if we don't adhere to the guidelines and keep cases low.

This phenomenal achievement makes clear that our country is a bastion of science, innovation, leadership and collaboration and my greatest thanks go out to everyone involved in this historic moment.

As ever, my team and I stand ready to support you however we can and I hope you find the information in this email both useful and reassuring.

Stay well –

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Alicia