An Oxford scientist advising the Government on Covid has said he believes the success of a potential vaccine means life could return to normal by spring.

A major breakthrough was announced today in the search for a coronavirus vaccine, with the jab from Pfizer found to be more than 90 per cent effective.

The pharmaceutical giant and its partner BioNTech said interim results showed their jab could prevent people developing Covid-19.

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Sir John Bell, regius professor of medicine at Oxford University and a member of the Government’s vaccine taskforce, said that other vaccines were now likely to become available in the near future.

“I am really delighted with this result – it shows that you can make a vaccine against this little critter. Ninety per cent is an amazing level of efficacy,” he told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One.

“It rolls the pitch for other vaccines because I can’t see any reason now why we shouldn’t have a handful of good vaccines.”

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Asked if people could look forward to a return to normal life by the spring, Sir John replied: “Yes, yes, yes, yes. I am probably the first guy to say that but I will say that with some confidence.”

He said organising the distribution of the vaccine would be 'challenging' but that the UK was well-placed to benefit once it becomes available.

He said: “They will obviously start in the US – that’s probably appropriate. BioNTech is a German company so there will be, I am sure, doses made available for Europe.

“The UK has done a pre-approval agreement to purchase up 30 million doses of this vaccine, so we are very well prepared to get access to this vaccine when it becomes available.

“The manufacturing challenges are not small, so people need be ready to wait a bit to get it.”

The vaccine has been tested on 43,500 people in six countries and no safety concerns have been raised.

Dr Albert Bourla, Pfizer chairman and chief executive, said: “Today is a great day for science and humanity.”

Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases and global health at Oxford University, said: “This news made me smile from ear to ear.”

Downing Street has welcomed the results as 'promising' and said the UK will have procured 10 million doses by the end of the year to be given out if it is approved.

The UK has secured 40 million doses in total of the vaccine.