According to an article from The Blood-Horse, Epsom Downs and Leicester Racecourse are about to make a transition from horse racing to COVID-19 vaccine administration site. The UK became the first country to approve a vaccine for the virus on Dec. 2 and a mass vaccine program is currently being prepared by the government.
This is not the first time in the UK that racecourses have been utilized in the fight against the virus that has taken its toll on the thoroughbred industry since it surfaced. Many racecourses have been used as drive-through testing sites over the course of this wildly unpredictable year.
“Help is on its way,” said Health secretary Matt Hancock while speaking on “BBC Breakfast”. “From next week we can start rolling this out, and we can start with those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19. I’m confident now with the news today that from spring, from Easter onwards, things are going to be better, and we’re going to have a summer next year that everybody can enjoy.”
The vaccine is reported to be 95% effective and is set to arrive next week. The UK has pre-ordered 40 million doses, but only 800,000 of those will be arriving next week. On Wednesday racecourses in the UK reopened to spectators for the first time since March.
Read more at Bloodhorse.com.
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