Don't expect first Covid-19 vaccinations until early 2021, WHO says

Researchers are making "good progress" in developing vaccines against Covid-19, with a handful in late-stage trials, but their first use cannot be expected until early 2021, a World Health Organisation expert said on Wednesday.

The agency is working hard to ensure fair distribution of the vaccines, but in the meantime it is important to suppress the spread of the virus, said Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO's emergencies programme.

Daily new cases around the globe are at near-record levels.

"We're making good progress," Mr Ryan said.

Several vaccines are in phase 3 trials and none have failed, so far, in terms of safety or ability to generate an immune response, he said.

"Realistically it is going to be the first part of next year before we start seeing people getting vaccinated," he said.

The WHO was working to expand access to potential vaccines and to help scale-up production capacity, Mr Ryan said.

"And we need to be fair about this, because this is a global good. Vaccines for this pandemic are not for the wealthy, they are not for the poor, they are for everybody," he said.

The US government will pay $1.95 billion (Dh7.16bn) for 100 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine being developed by Pfizer and German biotech company BioNTech if it proves safe and effective, the companies said on Wednesday.

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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.