Face masks still needed until late 2021 in spite of vaccine, top scientist announces

This comes as hospitals across the country – including those in Sheffield – begin to roll out the Pfizer vaccine, which was approved for use last week.

“It’s going to take quite a long time to make sure everybody in the at-risk groups and all of the groups that are difficult to reach get vaccinated as appropriate,” Sir Vallance said.

He told Sky News: “It takes time after the vaccine for the immune system to kick in.”

Latest coronavirus infection rates for Sheffield and South Yorkshire as vaccinations start

He said it can take a month or longer before the vaccine gives full immunity.

“This is incredibly important and it is important that we all stick to the rules in the meantime – the rules are what’s keeping the virus down now, we need to keep the virus down while we allow the vaccine programme to roll out,” he said.

“It may be that next winter, even with vaccination, we need measures like masks in place – we don’t know yet how good all the vaccines are going to be at preventing the transmission of the virus.”

Nurse reveals the ‘key challenge’ to vaccine rollout as programme begins in Sheffield

He said that although it is known that they prevent disease, it is not yet known how well they halt the spread of the virus.

The vaccine will be administered in two doses, with three weeks between each jab.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been chosen as one of the 53 ‘vaccination hubs’ that will store and distribute the vaccine.