vaccination and immunisation is and they cah is the biggest risk factor so they cah is the biggest risk factor so what they want is the older age groups to be right at the front of the queue when it comes to the vaccine for them due to logistical issues whether the vaccine needing to be stored at —70 degrees, is likely that that the first people to get the vaccine will be those in hospital, patients, workers, care home staff. and those classified in the extremely vulnerable and over 65 group are still in the first phase and will be some of the first to get the vaccine probably early next year. but if concerned they could also get the flu jab. bill asks if you have already had cover 19 will you have already had cover 19 will you get the vaccine? the aim is for eve ryo ne you get the vaccine? the aim is for everyone to get the vaccine regardless of whether you have had the virus are not. we don't know if catching it stops you getting the virus again. and this morning health secretary matt hancock said that he would sign up for the vaccine when it was his time, having previously

had covered 19. and isn't going to be compulsory? no vaccine in the uk is compulsory and it is the same with this one, the reason being that experts say making it compulsory can damage confidence. but the prime minister borisjohnson damage confidence. but the prime minister boris johnson is damage confidence. but the prime minister borisjohnson is urging people to take up the vaccine particularly those in the most at risk groups. as for side effects data from the trials say they must be very mild for that no medication is 100% risk—free. it millions immunised we could see side—effects appearing but the burden be monitored closely and patients will report any problems they have along the way. now let's take a look at pat. the weather is going to look and feel different in the next few days, getting colder and wetter and for most that means rain for the blue could be some sleet as well. snow is more likely over the hills particularly in the north. it is

getting cold already in scotland and northern ireland and that colder air will sweep down across the whole country tomorrow. that is the easy bit, we're left with area of low pressure and around that swelling bands of rain and perhaps no. difficult to get the details exactly right. we've got the call air today coming in today, bringing blustery showers into scotland and northern ireland, beginning to head over the irish sea as well for that that colder air comes behind the band of cloud bringing patchy rain and heading into the middle and is now heading into the middle and is now heading towards the south—east of england this evening. that then moves away and those showers develop. the showers are northern ireland and scotland turning increasingly wintry even to lower levels. that means some icy conditions developing tonight and tomorrow morning in scotland and northern ireland, more likely to have a frost here. not quite settled tonight for england and wales, the cloud increasing through the night, wetter weather pushing back into

wales and the south west of england. cloud and rain moving across much of england and wales tomorrow. northern parts of england could be brighter for a time with some wintry showers and the wintry showers in the morning in scotland and northern ireland get pushed away so many areas become dry and sunny. but cold, temperatures only just areas become dry and sunny. but cold, temperatures onlyjust above freezing for the highest temperatures along the south coast of england but we had rain here. we could get heavy rain tomorrow night in the south—east of england and by the time we get to friday wetter weather likely to come in from the north sea and that could bring some snow, quite heavy snow as well particularly in the hills. snow to begin with, turning to rain through the day but we have wetter weather stuck across northern england and parts of the midlands and east anglia which could bring the snow into the hills and perhaps some sleet at lower levels. friday at the moment looks dry across south wales and the south west of england. another cold day and wendy around coastal areas as well. heading into the weekend, things do come down a bit, we are still in the colder air

but it will be turning dry. still some patchy wet weather around, probably on saturday. at this stage it is mostly rain and wind will be on saturday as well. by the time we get to sunday to most places will be dry, still quite chilly by day and the risk of frost as well. a reminder of our top story: the uk becomes the first country in the world to approve the pfizer coronavirus vaccine. that's all from the bbc news at one, so it's goodbye from me. and on bbc one, we nowjoin the bbc‘s news teams where you are. good afternoon, it's 1.30pm and here's your latest sports news. some fans are getting ready to return to sporting events today — as the lockdown in england is being replaced by the tier system. a handful of spectators will be welcomed to some football league matches this evening, while four race meetings will also

have a limited number of fans during the day. wayne mumford is the commercial director at charlton athletic — and he's been telling us about the task of getting fans back into their football stadium. we have a big problem and that all delay might a lot of our fans and kent adding that t3 is to be have to tell them they cannot come so then it is about which of our fans can come, we have told anybody above 70 if they wanted to opt out or end so that was a challenge. we went through that process then that a ballot of season—ticket holders so fa ns were ballot of season—ticket holders so fans were disappointed again. we have 2000 fans coming tonight so now it is about the journey and getting them here safely and suited safely, listening to the rules and enjoying the game.

british driver george russell said he was unbelievably grateful to williams and mercedes, after being confirmed as lewis hamilton's replacement at this weekend's sakhir grand prix. hamilton was ruled out after testing positive for covid—i9. russell is with the williams team but mercedes have guided his career since 2017 and williams have agreed to release him. he said "nobody can replace lewis, but i'll give my all for the team in his absence from the moment i step in the car". and that's extremely good news for another englishman, jack aitken, who'll take russell's place in bahrain. he said "i can't believe this, but i will make my f1 debut with @williamsracing this weekend. next season, mick schumacher — son of the seven time world champion michael schumacher, will make his f1 debut. he says it's "a dream i have been chasing since i was three years old" after being confirmed as a driver with the haas team. he'll line up in melbourne in march, 30 years after his father was given his debut. the german, who's 21, could wrap up the formula two championship

in bahrain this weekend. romain grosjean welcomed mick schumacher to f1 this morning — and showed off a picture of one of his hands, burnt when he crashed at the bahrain grand prix last weekend. he was released from hospital today — and he said he almost cried when he was told he didn't need the full dressing anymore and he could actually use his fingers. "a victory on my way to recovery", he called it. a thousand boxing fans will be allowed into wembley arena for anthony joshua's heavyweight title defence against kubrat pulev. local authorities have given the go—ahead, with london falling into tier 2 of the latest covid—i9 restrictions. there will be strict safety measures in place for the fight, on december the 12th, when joshua's four titles will be on the line. he hasn't fought on home soilfor over two years, and tickets will be priced at between 100 and 1000 pounds.

england bowler mark wood is hoping for a leading role in the one—day side to face south africa, after missing out on all three t20 games. the starts on friday. it'll be interesting to see whether england continue with the ‘coded system' they experiemented with during yesterday's victory in cape town, with analyst nathan leamon hanging a series of letters and numbers from the team balcony, to send information to captain eoin morgan. i think it is good for the captain to have, he is a very instinctive captain soi to have, he is a very instinctive captain so i am not sure he needs that much but it is great to have the information. nathan does a good job, maybe this is part of the new way of cricket, we are looking for new ways, the analyst holds up the scorecard like on strictly and we

have a new game show. there's more on the bbc sport website, including the results of a fans‘ poll, on the return of fans to english football. let's go now to the house of commons where the health secretary, matt hancock is giving a statement to mps. all through this arduous year whilst we have been working late and day to fight the virus and keep it under control we have been striving to develop the vaccines that can give us develop the vaccines that can give us hope and let us eventually release the curbs on our freedoms that have bound us fossil long. thanks to the incredible work of the task force, the business secretary and kate bingham we have already amassed a huge portfolio of different vaccine candidates. we have back seven vaccines and ordered 350 million doses on behalf of the whole uk, one of the biggest portfolios per capita in the world. we have said from the start that a

vaccine must be safe and effective before we would even consider deploying it. any vaccine must go through a rigorous process of clinical trials involving thousands of people and extensive independent scrutiny from the nhra, one of the worlds most respected medical regulators. i am delighted to inform the house that they have issued the clinical authorisation of the pfizer beyond tick vaccine. it is no longer left that is going to be a vaccine thatis left that is going to be a vaccine that is when. in the battle against the virus help is on its way. today isa the virus help is on its way. today is a triumph for science and engineering and humanity and they wa nt to engineering and humanity and they want to thank everyone who has played their part, the team at pfizer, the team at biontech, the volu nteers pfizer, the team at biontech, the volunteers retreat part in clinical trials and to the mhra themselves are made sure this is a vaccine we

can all have faith in. thanks to their efforts i confirm that the uk is the first country in the world to have a clinically approved coronavirus vaccine for supply. now our task is to make use of the fruits of the scientific endeavour to save lives. we have spent months preparing for this day so that as soon got the green light to be would be ready to go. we were the first country in the wallet to preorder supplies of the successful vaccine and we have a0 million doses preorderfor and we have a0 million doses preorder for delivery over the coming months, enough for 20 million people because two jobs are required for each. following authorisation of the next stage is to test each batch of the vaccine for safety and i can confirm that batch testing has been completed this morning for the first deployment of 800,000 doses of the vaccine. these doses are for the whole united kingdom. this morning i

chaired a meeting of health ministers from the devolved administrations to ensure the right was coordinated nationwide. this will be one of the biggest logistical civilian efforts we have faced, there will be challenges and complications but i know the nhs as equal to the task. rolling out of the vaccine free at the point of delivery according to clinical need not ability to pay is in the finest tradition of our national health service. i am dieted to confirm the nhs will be able to start vaccinating early next week. the whole purpose is to protect people from covid—i9 subic and get lives back to normal. we will prioritise the groups to alligators risk. —— groups at greatest risk. the other priority has been set out according to clinical needs including the care home residents and carers, the over

80s, flood plain and health and social care workers and we will deliver according to privatisation and operational the sensitive because of the need to hold the vaccine at —70 makes it particularly challenging to deploy. while stripping and vaccination next week the bulk of the vaccinations will be in the new year but i would urge anyone call followed by the nhs to respond quickly to protect themselves, their loved ones and community. 0ver themselves, their loved ones and community. over the next few months we will see vaccines delivered in three different ways, first people begin vaccination is in hospital hubs, second we will deploy throttle commuter services including gps and in due course pharmacies. third we will stand up vaccination centres and sports venues for example to vaccinate large numbers of people as more vaccines come on stream.

vaccinate large numbers of people as more vaccines come on stream. this is an important step but we are not there yet. so i want to stress that we must all keep playing our part, keep following the new rules you house approved overwhelmingly yesterday and remember the basics like hands, face, space and get a test that enough of experience are so important in keeping the virus under control. may also update the house on another bit of good news, from today i am thrilled to say we can from today i am thrilled to say we ca n safely from today i am thrilled to say we can safely allow visits and care homes for those who test negative for covid—i9. coronavirus has denied so many people the simple pleasure of seeing a loved one which is so precious to show many especially in our care homes. this is only possible because of the success we have had in building one of the biggest testing capacities and europe and working with local and

national teams working together side by side, something we have often discussed across this house. we work ha rd discussed across this house. we work hard on testing, on the vaccine, our strategy of suppressing the virus until a vaccine can make a safe, that strategy is working and i am delighted that we will be able to see families and friends working together, coming together ahead of christmas thanks to this improvement. this is a data member and a yearto improvement. this is a data member and a year to forget. we can see the way out but we are not there yet so let's keep our resolve, keep doing our best to keep people safe until science can make us free. thank you for the advanced state of the statement, this is indeed fantastic news about the pfizer vaccine and i wa nt to news about the pfizer vaccine and i want tojoin news about the pfizer vaccine and i want to join with the secretary of state and congratulating all have been involved in making this happen. we have rightly clapped carers to

throughout this crisis, i want that every should as a nation come together and upload our scientists as well one evening. it is incumbent upon all of us to reinforce the case that vaccination saves lives. effort helps i will stand alongside the secretary of state socially distanced on any platform or any tv studio to show that we are united cross— party studio to show that we are united cross—party and promoting vaccination. 0ur constituents will have legitimate questions and they should not be ridiculed for asking them. so will he launch a large—scale public them. so will he launch a la rge—scale public information campaign to answer questions and encourage uptake, will he consider sending a pamphlet perhaps to every household. we know that dangerous myths circulate on social media and again we repeat our offer to work with ministers to curb online harm andi with ministers to curb online harm and i hope we can work together and

ta ke and i hope we can work together and take something followed. hospital trust staff. receiving this vaccine, i understand it is a massivejust tickle exercise given the temperatures and two doses but could you tell us how many nhs staff expects to be vaccinated by january, a tame expect them to be under most pressure. also where does this leave social care and care home residents and staff. there are concerns this particular vaccine cannot be moved multiple times to care homes so can he set out exactly where and how residents will receive a vaccine. 0ur constituents will want to know when will primary care networks start rolling out vaccination and when body mass vaccination centres he is reporting to the house start opening in our communities. we have historic strengths as a country with vaccination but in recent years we have lost our measles free status

because we know vaccination rates can be lower and poorer and vulnerable communities and we know that covid—i9 has had a disproportional impact often in these communities are so bulky ensuring there as a health and equality strategy and the vaccination campaign so the polis and vulnerable do not miss out on this vaccine. we understand restrictions will remain in place for some time but can he offer us a target for when we should expect to achieve herd immunity and later gets back to normal. what he consider publishing a route map of what restrictions could be released as vaccination rates increase and any meantime of someone as vaccinated well they still have to isolate left contacted well they still have to isolate left co nta cted by well they still have to isolate left contacted by test and trace or are they now released from that obligation. 0n must testing very quickly, some directors of public health of told media lateral flow tests are health of told media lateral flow tests a re not health of told media lateral flow tests are not licensed for

door—to—door testing on hotspots and therefore can only be administered at sites. if that is correct can he dissolve it, if not correct can he issue urgent clarity. and the document published on monday it suggested local areas could use mass testing is a freedom pass, pretty outline what that means and practice, well local areas enforce rules, what happens of some people are able to follow, have had and have not had the test and a particular area and any house yesterday the prime minister suggested people may want to take advantage of must testing ahead of visiting the family is discussed must, could he update the house and whether that is the plan and how that will be prevented. we of course malcolm has news on care homes but many kit homes report they will need resources to support this testing exercise, will those resources be in place. very finally effort must testing as to what can these communities people will need to

support to isolate fdr phoned they have covid—i9 when the are not feeling unwell. will he expand the eligibility criteria for the £500 grant. this is a good news day and we should all pay tribute to everybody involved, tribute to the scientist and i say again we will work together to make the case that vaccination to civilise. —— save lives. he has what support of leanne constructively with the government throughout this pandemic and they pay tribute to the approach she has taken and took again today. i stand with him and saying vaccination save lives. if we can together encourage anybody to take a vaccine who may be hesitant by appealing together and

being vaccinated together then of course i would be happy to do that. i recommend that we have a professional vaccinating us of course. i don't think he would trust me to do that. he asked for the public information campaign and the role of course be one and he asked about health inequalities which is very important consideration, the best thing to support tackling health and equality as the fact we have a vaccine but we absolutely need to try to reach all parts and all communities across the whole country. he asks how many will be vaccinated by january and wales today brings more certainty it does not end all uncertainty because whilst we have 800,000 passed the

batch testing the total number that will be manufactured over this timeframe is not yet known because it is all dependent on the manufacturing process which is complicated itself. this is not a chemical, it is a biological product soi chemical, it is a biological product so i cannot answer that question thatis so i cannot answer that question that is as yet unknowable. he asked when the centres will open at the a nswer when the centres will open at the answer is very when the centres will open at the answer is very soon. when the centres will open at the answer is very soon. we have 50 hospital hubs ready to go from next week, the pcn are also being stood up week, the pcn are also being stood up and the centres which are outside of hospitals and these are all coming very soon. of hospitals and these are all coming very soon. he then asks about when we will get to left restrictions and of course i understand not only why he but everybody and the country wants to know the answer to this question which is how many people do you have to vaccinate before you can start lifting distractions. the answer to

thatis lifting distractions. the answer to that is that whilst to be no the vaccine protects you as an individual with 95% efficacy we do not know the impact the vaccine on reducing the transmission because of the problem of asymptomatic transmission which has been such bedevilled our response to this virus and made its hard to tackle. therefore we do not know the answer to that question but what we will do is follow the same five indicators we we re is follow the same five indicators we were discussing at length yesterday which are the indicators of the spread of the disease, we will look at the cases, hospitalisations and of course the number of people who die with covid—i9 and we would hope very much as we vaccinate more and more vulnerable people that we will see those rates come down and therefore be able to lift the restrictions. we

will have to see how the vaccination programme impacts directly on the epidemic and then of course move as swiftly as we safely can to left the restrictions that we all want to see gone. he asks about the point on the community testing being licensed from door—to—door, i have not have that problem and i will make sure i could back not only to him but also those who raised it with mf able work with me on that. i am about surprised. the lateral flow tests need a professional to administer currently although be hope we can move farther than that. that can be in any setting as far as i know so i am about surprised to hear that but since it came from a public health professional i will dig into it further. finally he talked about the

testing prospectus relaunched, we do hope to be able to use testing to do more things that we would not be able to do without, and a way the visits to care homes and an example of that. that is something we know can of that. that is something we know ca n safely of that. that is something we know can safely recommend that because not recommend before. so too is tested to the lease on quarantine for people coming into this country and if there are further examples that could be safely done of this sort of enablement of normal life through testing that can be approved by director of public health and the chief medical officer and his team then we are very enthusiastic about working with local areas to deliver that on the ground. there are lots of ideas out there and i would ask people to be creative about toby can do this and a way that enables some of the things we love to get going again but does so anyway that keeps

people safe. that's what that part of the testing prospectus was about, iam very of the testing prospectus was about, i am very enthusiastic and looking follow to working with electors a public health and colleagues because the play minister also said yesterday with this roll—out of mass testing and the availability of these tests we all as the dust and our local communities have got a role for promoting the role of mass testing and i assure that our communities across the country represented in this house who could benefit from this roll—out but many people looking around the chamber now who have already approached me not just now who have already approached me notjust an now who have already approached me not just an lancashire. now who have already approached me notjust an lancashire. i look forward to working with colleagues across this house to promote this public health message amongst all the other important public health m essa g es we the other important public health messages we have to promote not least that fn hs phones you or sends you a letter and says that that is a vaccination slot open to you then

just say yes. can i congratulate him on this moment and the government for the news about the pfizer vaccine but please can we continue to have increased honesty about what we still do not know that how long the immunity will last, we don't even know a few of vaccinated whether you can still transmit the disease. and of course we don't know ft are two will actually succeed in bringing the r rate down and we still need maximum effort behind contact tracing and isolation. councils like essex need daily access to all the positive cases recorded by test and trace, immediately and without delay and not to make their own operations effective so by abbey having to wait a8-72

effective so by abbey having to wait a8 — 72 hours to get the data and what is the government going to do to engage districts and volunteer hubs to help people to persuade people to support people to still must isolate even effort they have been vaccinated. dealing with this pandemic has been a case of dealing with uncertainty and today we have more certainty because we know that this vaccine is safe and effective but just as i this vaccine is safe and effective butjust as i was saying that we do not know the effect of the vaccine on transmission so we don't know the effect of the vaccine... we will keep and i that discussion and the house of commons but the health secretary advising that 800,000 doses of the newly approved pfizer biontech vaccine have been passed and the first deployment he says will be under way shortly. we will have more reaction that is shown but

first a look at the weather. turning colder today and north—western parts planning and show us, still some cloud and patchy rain in the south—east, shoscombe and turning increasingly wintry in scotla nd and turning increasingly wintry in scotland and northern ireland and hear icy conditions with a frost. maybe not quite as cold for england and wales, later the close thickens, wet weather into wales and the south—west and gradually spelling to most of england during thursday with snow developing of the hills. for northern england it could be brightened with wintry showers, and scotla nd brightened with wintry showers, and scotland and northern ireland they tend to get pushed away suffered many turning dry and sunny but a cold day, temperatures just many turning dry and sunny but a cold day, temperaturesjust above freezing, highest temperatures along the south coast of england. for all of us at will be feeling cold and the weather turning more unsettled. for many it means rain, could be some sleet and be unlikely to have

some sleet and be unlikely to have some snow over the hell especially in the north. this is bbc news. i'm simon mccoy. the headlines — the uk becomes the first country in the world to approve the pfizer coronavirus vaccine, and immunisation will start next week. it is the protection of vaccines that will ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives, and get our economy moving again. the medicines regulator says checks have been thorough, no corners have been cut, as pfizer says shipping will happen very, very quickly. it's an incredible moment for society, and i really think this is now a turning point in the fight against this pandemic, both here in the uk, and across the globe. i couldn't be prouder right now. 55 million go into the strictest tiers in england, as new restrictions replace the second national lockdown. hello, darling! when did we