We are fast approaching our first anniversary of the series of Covid-19 lockdown and tiering measures first being imposed across the country. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been having their own particular rules but they have been pretty much the same everywhere.
Fortunately, we can now see that the end is in sight. The collaboration between the University of Oxford and the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca, has delivered a remarkable effective vaccine at amazing speed. Normally, vaccines take ten years to develop and run the clinical trials on but, with the immense focus of so much of our society, it has taken far less than a year.
All of the evidence is that the effectiveness of this and the other vaccines is significantly higher than first hoped, the role out started earlier and has expanded faster than our best expectations.
There is a huge contrast with the performance of the vaccination programmes in many European countries and it has been disappointing to hear a significant level of scaremongering amongst senior continental politicians. Unfortunately, this means that their vaccination programmes have been hindered and many people have not received the vaccine that they want simply because of political self-interest.
Oddly enough, vaccines have now become part of global politics with the Russian and Chinese governments using their versions to secure influence with countries around the world. This probably is not what many people would be thinking when they go to a local centre for the jab but the global vaccine role out can be compared to the space race between the USA and USSR. There are increasing concerns that the emergence of Covid-19 marks the early stages of an emerging cold war with China replacing the USSR as the opposing protagonist.
Thinking of tensions building up and the potential for disruption, I wonder what problems will emerge from the return to normal schooling. Most children will have spent barely anytime in a formal school setting over the last year which will present its own problems but, I think, compulsory mask wearing will make it worse. When I went to school, we would take any opportunity to be a bit cheeky with the teachers and the anonymity of wearing a mask will make it so much easier.
Just as teachers are preparing for the return of normal schooling, the Chancellor is going to be delivering his Budget. He is going to have a difficult task in balancing all the questions over taxation and spending policy but it is so important for our recovery for him to get it right.
The Chancellor will be working with the Prime Minister to ensure that the success of our vaccine programme is matched by our economic bounce back so we can leave these difficult days behind us and get back to normal.
