Regulators could approve the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine shortly after Christmas, a medical scientist has said.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) could approve the vaccine, developed by Oxford University researchers, "shortly after" Christmas said Professor Sir John Bell.
The approval would be a huge boost to the ongoing vaccination programme which has seen more than half a million people vaccinated in the UK with the Pfizer/BioNTech version.
This Oxford jab is easier to distribute and the government has ordered 100 million doses, with around 40 million available by the end of March.
Early this week, Sarah Gilbert, lead researcher for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine said the jab was "not too far off" being given the go ahead.
Sir John, Oxford University's regius professor of medicine, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he expects MHRA approval "pretty shortly".
He said: "They got data quite a long time ago but that was the first set of data.
"They receive multiple sets of data.
"So we are getting to be about prime time now, I would expect some news pretty shortly.
"I doubt we'll make Christmas now, but just after Christmas I would expect.
"I have no concerns whatsoever that the data looks better than ever."
His comments came as former prime minister Tony Blair called for major policy shifts in the rollout of vaccines, concentrating on giving more people a single dose with greater flexibility in who receives a jab.
A single jab will still grant "substantial immunity" and help prevent the spread of the virus the former PM said.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "the reality is we are now in severe lockdown until vaccination" and it should be a priority to give as many people as possible some protection.
While ideally people should received the required two doses, the question is: "Does the first dose give you substantial immunity, and by that I mean over 50% effectiveness?
"If it does, there is a very strong case for not, as it were, holding back doses of the vaccine."
For example "if, in January, AstraZeneca is delivering you 10 or 20 million doses of the vaccine, you vaccinate 10 or 20 million people".
"You should get more vaccine coming on stream by the time you are ready for the second dose and that first dose can give you substantial immunity."
The former premier also criticised the "somewhat inflexible 'by age' structure" used to determine who receives the jab.
Experts at the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation have drawn up a priority list based on clinical need.
But Mr Blair argues there should be a focus on "the people spreading the disease, not simply the vulnerable".
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told Today that the Government is focusing on getting as many people as possible to receive the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
"At the moment the priority is just to ensure that as many people as possible get the first shot of the vaccine," he said.
"Remember, the second shot has to be done, depending on what the vaccine is, 21 or 28 days later and so we still haven't reached that point with the first people who were vaccinated."
Asked whether the Government would consider dropping the second shot, Mr Jenrick said: "The strategy will always be kept under review but the priority today is to ensure that as many people as possible are given the first shot of the vaccine; that is what is happening."
