The UK is taking a “huge step forward” in its fight against Covid-19 as the country’s vaccination programme gets under way, Boris Johnson has said.

Vaccinations will be administered at dozens of hospital hubs across the country from today – dubbed “V-Day” by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Hereford Times: Image: PAImage: PA

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “immensely proud” of the scientists who have developed the new jab and praised NHS staff for working “tirelessly” to make the vaccine rollout happen.

Tuesday marks the start of the NHS’s largest ever vaccination programme, with the UK becoming the first country in the world to start vaccinating people with the Pfizer/BioNTech jab.

The vaccine has been shown to be 95% effective against Covid-19 and works across all age groups, including the elderly.

Among the first people to receive it will be the over-80s, care home staff and health workers, with the eventual aim of vaccinating millions of people against coronavirus.

After an initial dose, a second jab must be given 21 days later.

Some 800,000 doses of the vaccine have been delivered to UK hospital hubs – enough for 400,000 people – but it is unclear when more doses will arrive from the manufacturer.

Overall, the UK has secured 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine which is enough for 20 million people.

GP surgeries have been told to prepare to start staffing some GP-led vaccination centres from next week, with more opening up as stocks of the jab arrive.

Across England, 1,250 primary care networks have been asked to designate a single practice to administer vaccines in their area which would be capable of delivering vaccines from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, and on bank holidays if needed.

Vaccination centres treating large numbers of patients in sporting venues and conference centres across England will also be mobilised when further supplies come on stream.

The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at minus 70C before being thawed out and can only be moved four times within that cold chain before being used.

It means most early vaccinations will take place in hospital hubs while experts work on deploying doses to other settings.

Defence minister James Heappey told the Commons on Monday that 56 armed forces personnel had been deployed in efforts to construct the Covid-19 vaccination centres.

He said the Army was also assisting with vaccine rollout plans, with 60 military planners integrated into the UK’s vaccine taskforce.