“We might have to bring in a few next winter for example,” he added. “That’s possible, because winter will benefit the virus.”
He added: “The aim of this is to de-risk it as much as possible by the vaccine to the point where we get to the stage where the risk is incredibly low, relative to where we are now, just as we do with flu where every year an average of about 7,000 people die, in a bad year up to 20,000 die – we accept there is a level of risk that society will tolerate.”
Discussing the Chief Medical Officer’s comments today, Phillip said: “I watched the press conference last night, and I have a great deal of admiration for that team and what they are doing behind the scenes and the fact this is all a work in progress.
“But I did think last night, do you know what Chris – and once again I have the great admiration for you – I didn’t need to know that.