'I wouldn't hesitate' - Sheffield reacts to long-awaited news on coronavirus vaccine

The first effective coronavirus vaccine can prevent more than 90 per cent of people from getting Covid-19, a preliminary analysis shows.

The vaccine, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, has been tested on 43,500 people in six countries and no safety concerns have been raised.

Michael Mlynek, of Norfolk Park, said he had ‘no worries whatsoever’ about taking the vaccine.

He said: “I think the people who say they won’t take are just foolish. I would jump at the chase to take it because I want things to get back to normal.

“Both our daughters are nurses at hospitals in Sheffield. One of them has already had Covid and now she is having a baby. Obviously, we want to see our grandkids.”

Psychotherapist Stephanie Newman said she too would be happy to take the vaccine when it became available.

She said: “I wouldn’t hesitate. I have been vaccinated, my kids have been vaccinated and my dog has been vaccinated. And I am autistic but I don’t blame it on the vaccinations.

“But while I expect the vaccine will help I don’t think things will get back to normal for a while. I don’t think that people being vaccinated will necessarily mean that Covid just disappears.”

Margaret Songhurst, of City Road, agreed that a vaccine would not get rid of the virus immediately, but said she thought the Government’s lockdown strategy had been misguided.

“Scientists have been trying to find a vaccine for the cold for 40 years and still haven’t. Everyone is talking about it as a magic bullet but it isn’t.

“So I wouldn’t want to risk my health for something I don’t think will work. We should be concentrating on shielding the elderly and vulnerable.”

But University of Sheffield student Molly Jones, from Blackburn, said she was happy about the news and looking forward to things getting back to normal.

“I’m not worried about them microchipping me and I have had plenty of vaccines already in my life,” she said.

“I think you need 95 per cent of people for herd immunity so hopefully the people who refuse to take it will be less than five per cent.”

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.