Coronavirus: British COVID-19 vaccine rollout expected in less than 3 months

British vaccine rollout expected in less than 3 months

A mass rollout of a virus vaccine in Britain could be finished in as little as three months. 

Scientists working on the Oxford vaccine hope regulators approve it before the beginning of 2021, the Times reported, citing government scientists.

A full virus immunisation programme, which would exclude children, could be quicker than experts predicted, The Times said, adding that health officials estimate that every adult could receive a dose of the vaccine within six months.

The European Medicines Agency said on Thursday it has started reviewing data on AstraZeneca and Oxford University's potential vaccine, in real-time, the first of such moves aimed at speeding up any approval process in the region for a vaccine.

The news of the European review also raises chances of the British vaccine, which is seen as leading the race for a successful vaccine against the virus, becoming the first to be approved in Europe for the disease.