Poland’s Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, has said the coronavirus vaccine symbolises „hope and safety for millions” as a nationwide vaccination programme gathers pace across Poland.
In a post on social media, Mr Morawiecki added that the vaccine had been tested by the best experts from around the world and would offer a chance to return to normality.
His message comes as the first large batch of vaccine doses is being distributed across Poland. Around 300,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have arrived in Poland with similar shipments expected weekly according to the head of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery.
In related news, the UK yesterday became the first country to authorise a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University for use.
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is set to play a crucial role in the global vaccination effort thanks to its low cost and relatively simple storage needs. The vaccine can be kept in a normal household refrigerator and costs just $4 per shot, compared with the Pfizer jab which, while more effective, costs $20 and requires specialised refrigerators capable of -70C.
The United Kingdom is today making final preparations for Brexit, with just hours to go until the country finally completes its exit from the European Union.
More than four years after the UK voted to leave the EU, the final cord is set to be cut tonight. From midnight, new rules will apply for citizens, businesses, and travelers as the trade agreement finalised last week comes into force.
The British Parliament yesterday signed the deal into law. The deal secured an overwhelming majority of 521 to 73 after the main opposition Labour party voted with the Conservative government despite criticisms of the agreement. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described the deal as „better than no deal”.
The European Parliament set to vote on the deal early in January, with the deal being applied provisionally until then, though it is widely predicted the parliament will pass the deal with a large majority.
2021 has already begun for New Zealand. At midday Polish time, New Zealand, which is 12 hours ahead of Europe, welcomed the new year and bid farewell to 2020 once and for all.
An hour earlier, the island nation of Kiribati became the first country to count down to midnight, followed by Tonga and Samoa.
In New Zealand, New Years’ Eve celebrations have been going on mostly as normal as the country has successfully stopped COVID-19 within its borders.
Fireworks displays, concerts, and parties are all going on as usual and facemasks are optional in most cases.
Mostly cloudy today with highs of 2C, 36F. Light winds from the south keeping things feeling chilly but no rain or snow expected.
A frosty first day of the year tomorrow with temperatures struggling to reach freezing. A chance for some snow showers later in the week.
Thomas Holdstock/ako
