BARROW’S MP has hailed the news of a vaccine breakthrough for Covid-19 as a 'route back to normality'.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged the public to stick to Covid-19 rules at a press conference yesterday, despite pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announcing it has made a coronavirus vaccine breakthrough.

Simon Fell, MP for Barrow, said: “This is the news we’ve all been waiting for.

“I want to see more detail but vaccines and vaccine therapies offer a route back to normality and protection for those in Furness who are most at risk to COVID and its consequences."

The Prime Minister said the Pfizer vaccine news was a sign the 'scientific cavalry' was on its way, but stressed it was 'very, very early days'.

He told a Downing Street press conference that the vaccine had cleared a 'significant hurdle' but there were more to cross before it could be used.

He said: “The Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine has been tested on over 40,000 volunteers and interim results suggest it is proving 90% effective at protecting people against the virus.

“But we haven’t yet seen the full safety data, and these findings also need to be peer-reviewed.

“So we have cleared one significant hurdle but there are several more to go before we know the vaccine can be used.”

The UK Government has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine - enough for about a third of the UK population.

“If the Pfizer vaccine passes all the rigorous safety checks and is proven to be effective then we will begin a UK-wide NHS led programme of vaccine distribution,” the PM said.

But he added: “We have talked for a long time, or I have, about the distant bugle of the scientific cavalry coming over the brow of the hill.

“And tonight that toot of the bugle is louder, but it is still some way off.

“And we absolutely cannot rely on this as a solution.

“The biggest mistake we could make now would be to slacken our resolve at such a critical moment.”

The Mail’s readers were happy to hear this news.

Darren Gill said: “Hope it works as we all need to get back to normality.”

Stephen Snell said: “Go Barrow. 40.9 per cent down this time last week for Covid. We can do this. Free in time for Christmas.”

Jane Pritchard said: “I will have it to protect my family and others.”

Elaine Powell said: “Book me in.”

Shaun Taylor Nightingale said: “Anyone can have mine.”