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London, January 11 (RHC)-- The UK was the first country to roll out a mass vaccination program but questions are being raised about potential inadequate safeguarding measures.  As the pandemic rages in the UK, driven for the most part by the new coronavirus variant, popularly referred to as the “British Virus” -- the British government has been at pains to showcase its success in rolling out a mass vaccination program.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, claimed on Monday that 2.4 million people had been vaccinated against COVID-19, with “roughly” 40 percent of the “80-year-olds” already covered.

The British army looks set to play a key role in the latest phase of the coronavirus pandemic by transporting and distributing the vaccine.  But how safe is the UK’s vaccination program, especially in the light of earlier concerns by both the United States and the European Union (EU) about the UK having rushed into the program without adequate safeguards.

Currently the UK is using three different vaccines to ostensibly protect its entire population against the scourge of the coronavirus.  

Whilst neither the Pfizer-BioNTech nor Moderna vaccines are British made, the former has already been extensively deployed by the NHS and Moderna is expected to be rolled out in the coming days.

The side effects for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are reported to be redness, swelling or pain around the injection site.  Fatigue, fever, headache and aching limbs are also not uncommon in the first three days after vaccination.

The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has advised hospitals they may want to stagger vaccinations among staff in case some feel too unwell to work in the immediate post-vaccination period.

Most ominously of all, it is not yet known if vaccinated people can still transmit the virus, especially if they remain symptomless.