Manchester's largest NHS trust is drawing up plans to vaccinate its staff against coronavirus.
The Manchester Evening News has seen an early internal planning document circulated within Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
The Trust runs a number of hospitals including Manchester Royal Infirmary, Wythenshawe Hospital, Saint Mary's Hospital, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and Trafford General.
Several potential Covid-19 vaccines are in the later stages of clinical trials, but still have to pass safety tests.
It's not yet known whether - or when - a vaccine could be approved for use.
But in line with Government instruction the NHS in all settings is gearing up to be ready to roll out vaccination programmes from any date in December, although mass vaccination is said to be more likely to happen in the new year.
The document seen by the M.E.N. reveals a 'mass vaccination public health programme' is being developed for Greater Manchester through the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership.
It also reveals a 'comprehensive Covid vaccination programme' for the Trust is now underway. Dates are referenced.
The Trust however has stressed they are dates it is working towards in line with the Government and NHS plans.
Exact detail in the document is yet to be confirmed.
The Trust's planning programme, says the document, will be implemented across MFT sites during the week ending December 11.
"The first vaccination should be administered to all staff between December 2020 and February 2021," it says.
"The second vaccine delivered within 21 days of the first.
"The programme is aimed at all staff, whether working onsite or remotely."
It's understood other trusts are also working up vaccination plans.
National vaccination would start with those most at risk, care home residents and staff, healthcare workers and those aged over 80.
It total, the UK government has secured early access to 355 million doses of various vaccines.
There have been positive results announced after clinical tests from three different vaccine candidates - Oxford University/AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna - although there are other vaccine candidates.
Independent regulator the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will carry out tests to assess whether vaccines meet standards of safety, effectiveness and quality once full data is received ahead of any authorisation.
Last week the M.E.N. reported a Manchester NHS doctor had become the first person in the world to be recruited for the final stage trial of a Covid-19 vaccine.
The trial is testing the safety and effectiveness of a new two-dose vaccine developed by The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.
Dr Claire Cole, the Head of Research Delivery at MFT, one of the sites where the Janssen Phase 3 trial is being conducted in the UK, was consented into the trial before later also becoming one of the first in the trial to receive their first dose.
The study is taking place at 17 National Institute for Health Research sites in the UK - including at the trust in Manchester.
