Conservative MPs Call for End of UK Lockdown After Vaccine Success

Conservative Members of Parliament have begun to call upon the Prime Minister Boris Johnson to bring an end to lockdown restrictions after a study suggested that one dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine cuts the transmission of COVID-19 by 67%.

The UK has ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine which is enough to vaccinate 50 million people (73% of the population). The vaccine requires an initial dose and then a follow-up dose around a month later. Alongside other vaccine orders, the UK will have enough vaccines to fully inoculate the entire population twice over - making it the best-supplied nation in the world in terms of the number of doses.

A recent study suggests that one dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is 67% effective at cutting the transmission of the virus, preventing 76% of people from developing symptoms which increases up to 82% of people when a second dose is administered. Out of the 20,000 who received the vaccine, none were either hospitalised or reported severe symptoms. After a six-month study of potential side effects to the vaccine, some adverse reactions were reported by participants - very few were severe. The expansive team of researchers concluded that the risk of such reactions was well within acceptable margins.  

Health Secretary Matt Hancock praised the study, stating:

“This is a hugely encouraging study and further reinforces our confidence that vaccines are capable of reducing transmission and protecting people from this awful disease … This report shows the Oxford vaccine works, and works well.”

Boris Johnson told Parliament last week that administering 15 million jabs to priority groups by February 15 may well allow for the reopening of schools after the immunity sets in three weeks after on March 8. The priority groups are those aged 70 and over, health and social care workers, and the clinically vulnerable. So far, just over 10 million people (14.8%) have received their first dose and nearly half a million  their second dose as of February 2nd. These figures suggest that the UK is on track to meet the Prime Minister’s mid-February target.

After the UK reached the 10 million vaccination milestone on Monday, the Prime minister referred to the vaccine program as "the most colossal in the history of the National Health Service." Johnson also stated that 95% of those over the age of 80 in England have now been vaccinated - including all elderly care home residents. 

Former Conservative party leader Ian Duncan Smith stated that the success of the AstraZeneca vaccine will help reopen the country: 

“This is very significant and has a positive effect on coming out of lockdown as soon as possible. We have a chance to get the economy moving again quickly.”

“It paves the way for the Government to get kids back to school and reopening the economy,”

Prior to this study, there were still voices in the Conservative Party calling for an end to lockdowns, as detailed by Lotuseaters.com. Concerns have been voiced that some in the government, including Boris Johnson, might not be prepared or willing to start re-opening the economy even when priority groups are vaccinated. Senior MP and former cabinet minister Esther McVey stated: “it is absolutely essential that once the most vulnerable groups have been vaccinated the government starts easing lockdowns.” She condemned those in government and parliament “who want lockdowns and restrictions to become a near-permanent feature of our lives.” Sir Desmond Swayne also expressed his fear “that Boris has been completely taken over,” and has “a complete lack of any sense of urgency on the need to lift restrictions.”