An Irish scientist working on a coronavirus vaccine has predicted life could go back to normal by late spring.
Dublin scientist Professor Adrian Hill’s hopeful comments come as the government plans to roll out a Covid-19 vaccine for 1 million people in the coming months.
Professor Hill is head of the Jenner Institute in Oxford where the latest Covid-19 vaccine was developed.
Although many are hesitant about taking a new vaccine, the Irish professor believes more people will be willing to take a vaccine once one is available.
Speaking to Miriam O’Callaghan on RTÉ Radio One, Prof Hill said: The truth is, it’s a very safe vaccine that can be manufactured at a scale that no other vaccine is trying to reach, and it is impressively effective.
“So we’re looking forward to getting on with this and making it available as soon as we can. We’ll see something approaching normality hopefully by late spring or early summer.”
But just over half of Irish people say they would be interested in getting the vaccine once it is available, according to an Irish Pharmacy Union survey.
The Government’s Covid-19 vaccination task force met today for the second time, as Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said a vaccination programme could happen early next year.
The task force will give the government a full national vaccination strategy and implementation plan by 11 December.
