EXCLUSIVE: Milton Keynes hospital ready to start giving Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to local people as early as next week

It is understood the vaccine is currently travelling to the UK through the Eurotunnel and the first jabs are set to start as early as next week.

Because it has to be stored at such a low temperature (-70C,), hospitals are currently the only places that have the facilities to store and administer the precious vials.

MK hospital is one of 50 throughout the UK and eight in the East of England been chosen for the debut jabs.

The first people to receive it will be "those at most risk of dying", says the government. This includes elderly people in care homes and care home staff , followed by over-80s and health and care staff.

By the end of phase one, the government hopes everyone in the country older than 50 will be vaccinated. Children and young people not be a priority as they have a lower risk of developing severe symptoms, according to experts.

England's deputy chief medical officer Prof Jonathan Van-Tam has said up to 99% of Covid-19 hospitalisations and deaths could be avoided with the first wave of vaccinations.

Speaking to BBC News, he said it was key to go "as fast" and at the "highest volume" as possible. But he acknowledged there would need to be some flexibility in the list.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said hospitals were one of three modes of delivery for the vaccination initially. Eventually there are plans for a mass vaccination centres and community rollout via GPs and pharmacists.

This week the UK became the first country in the world to approve the use of thePfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which has been shown in studies to be 95% effective and works in all age groups.

The government has so far ordered 40 million doses - enough to immunise 20 million people.