Recommendation 4

DHSC, NHSE&I and PHE will continue to face significant challenges in making sure they can get the vaccine to the right people at the right time. Each vaccine will require different plans for deploying because each has different characteristics. Getting the vaccine to the right place to allow it to be administered is challenging. For example, the Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE vaccine must be stored at -70°c, whereas the vaccine developed by the Astra-Zeneca Ltd—University of Oxford partnership can be stored at between 2°c and minus 8°c. BEIS considered the logistics of deployment as part of deciding which vaccines to purchase but prioritised whether the vaccine itself would work. Despite these challenges, 97.3% of vaccine deliveries so far have been made on-time and in full. The Former Chair of the Taskforce explained that the MHRA had compressed parts of the process while ensuring the efficacy and safety of the programme. NHSE&I is working to ensure any surplus vaccines are redistributed to those areas most in need and is using large vaccination sites and community pharmacies to help smooth distribution at a local level. NHSE&I is COVID-19: Planning for a vaccine Part 1 7 confident that it has in place the workforce it needs to meet its 15 February target, with around 80,000 people trained and ready to administer vaccines. Convenience and location of vaccine centres will be important in encouraging people to take up the offer of a vaccine, particularly in hard to reach groups. We were informed that 21 mobile army units of 101 Logistics Brigade were deployed. Local GPs and community leaders will play a crucial role in making sure people are willing and able to take up the offer of a vaccine and PHE has committed to working with local government to ensure that no community gets left behind. Recommendation: By the end of February 2021 DHSC, NHSE&I and PHE should write to us with their assessment of the main challenges and risks to the ongoing deployment of the vaccine pro