Novavax Covid-19 vaccine - which is being tested on volunteers in Blackpool - given special designation in the US ahead of trial on home soil and in Mexico

Novavax also said the possible vaccine had been given "fast-track" status from the US watchdog, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which will allow it to drip-feed trial data on a rolling basis rather than wait to send it all at once.

The biotech firm said results from its stage three trial in the UK, which has recruited around 60 per cent of a targeted 10,000 volunteers and signifies the last testing hurdle before the jab can be officially classed as safe and effective, are expected as "soon as early first quarter 2021".

It marks the second boost in the war on Covid in rapid succession, after analysis showed the candidate from the German biotech firm BioNTech and US pharmaceutical firm Pfizer can prevent more than 90 per cent of people from getting the virus.

The news was widely celebrated and made the front pages of multiple national newspapers, though some greeted the news with slightly more caution, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who warned these are still "very, very early days".

There are more than 200 vaccine candidates being tested around the world, with around a dozen in the final stages of testing, though the one from BioNTech/Pfizer was the first to report any results.

The other front runner is being developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, which is also in phase three clinical trials.

Deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam told a Downing Street press conference he was “hopeful” there would be “some vaccine by Christmas”.

He said: “Frankly, we’re in the middle of the second wave, and I don’t see the vaccine making any difference for the wave we are now in.

“I’m hopeful that it may prevent future waves, but this one we have to battle through to the end without a vaccine.

“This is a very important scientific breakthrough. I am certain of that.

“I am hopeful because of all that, but not yet certain that we could begin to see some vaccine by Christmas.”

The first Brit to take part in the Novavax study in the UK was enrolled at Layton Medical Centre, in Kingscote Drive, which is at the forefront of local efforts alongside Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Hundreds of local participants have agreed to take part in at least six visits over the course of around 13 months for antibody tests and to see if they contracted Covid.

They don't get paid but can claim back certain expenses.

Blackpool's director of public health, Dr Arif Rajpura, is one of those taking part.

Novavax, which secured $2 billion funding for its vaccination programme, is also testing the jab in South Africa and Australia.

The UK Government has ordered 60 million doses, which will be made in County Durham if the trial here, which is taking place at 18 sites including in Greater Manchester, London, Glasgow, and Belfast, is a success.

Dr Rebecca Clark from Layton Medical Centre described Novavax's new fast-track status as "great news for the UK phase three programme".

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