Posted at 12:30pm UK time

Famously, recent studies showed how a first dose of either Pfizer or Oxford, AstraZeneca reduces both deaths and hospitalisations dramatically — the drop in mortality in the over 60s already being seen to a significant degree across the nation.

By the fourth week after a first dose, the risk of hospitalisation is reportedly slashed by 85 per cent in the case of Pfizer and 94 per cent in the case of Oxford, AZ — to me these are truly remarkable figures.

The ‘roadmap' throws all this data aside by declaring there is no chance for wiggle room by including the 'no earlier than' dates, a clear rejection of scientific data and an endorsement of arbitrary dates.

William Parker writes more on why the vaccine must bring the ‘roadmap’ forward in our March print issue. Get this for free by subscribing here