IT was the news many were hoping and praying for.

A coronavirus vaccine found to be 90 per cent effective could be rolled out to the highest-priority Britons by Christmas.

The news was confirmed by the Government's deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he lauded the vaccine developed by American drug giant Pfizer and German biotech firm BioNTech as "a very important scientific breakthrough".

He said he is "hopeful we could see some vaccine by Christmas" but urged people to not "get too over excited about where we are".

But what do you think?

Would you jump at the chance to have the vaccine or are you sceptical?

Vote in our poll here:

We also asked our readers for their thoughts and received hundreds of responses.

Here is a selection. Feel free to join the debate by adding your comments below.

"I think if you are apprehensive about the vaccine due to genuine health concerns, and it’s relative newness, I fully understand. If your reasons for not having the vaccine have anything to do with the words “new world order", “great reset”, “Bill Gates”, “5g”, “Illuminati" or “microchip" then you shouldn’t be allowed the vaccine anyway on the grounds of astonishing gullibility and crippling stupidity." SAMMANTHA SCHAFFER

"Yes I’ll take it tomorrow if that means I can go on holiday and go out with my friends and enjoy the good times again. All people that don’t want it that’s fine but you'll just have to stay in your own little lockdowns." PAUL BARBER

"No... why would I want an injection for a virus that has little to no symptoms for the majority of us. I'm fortunate enough not to be in a vulnerable group." JAKE GILBERT

"I'm certain I will take the vaccine and I am concerned there is so much negative feeling over it. Vaccines are among the most effective and understood medical technologies. Most of us have probably had and benefited from at least 15 vaccines during our lifetimes. The vaccines will be tested and safe. They will protect you and those you love from a terrible disease." DAN WOODRUFF

"Not sure, ideally would like it to be tested on more people first and if possible know more of the side effects, as I would also be making this decision for my one-year-old baby." JADE MURRAY

"I blindly get the flu-jab once a year without actually knowing what it is, so what’s another one the to mix, eh! Bring it on." JOSH CLARK

"Do you enjoy taking holidays abroad? If so, you may find you will not be able to do that in the future unless you have had the vaccine. I shall have it, if it's offered. I had Covid back in March and it's left me with recurring post viral symptoms. And don't say having it means my antibodies will protect me. I'm enrolled in a Covid-19 research programme and my antibodies had gone after six months." JENNY NOAKES

"No, I'm not a sheep. Bill Gates can vaccine his own kids first before the rest of us, as they haven't been vaccinated at all." ALFRED WHITNELL

"I would like to know who it has been tested on because it may of been tested on healthy students to 50-year-olds when it needs testing on people with health issues and those that are vulnerable it’s taken ten years to perfect the flu jab yet flu is still killing thousands and thousands of people every year." JACKIE TIDEY

"Yes am a care worker but am also in the highly vulnerable category which they haven't tested on yet so not sure what will happen." KERRY BAGGALEY

"Definitely. I would love to be able to socialise and hug my friends and family again without living in fear of catching it. It's a yes from me!" PAT COLEMAN

"No way. I don't need to plus more research needs to be done. It's not safe and I don't have a flu jab. Eating fresh fruit and vegetables is the way forward - not pumping yourself full of poison." HAZEL CALVER

"Yes definitely. I want some sort of normality back in my life." LIZ CONNOLLY

"No! Not until it's proved safe! I remember Thalidomide." ANN WILLSHER

"Of course not. Absolutely no need if you are not in the 'at risk' category." TIM STOAT

"No thank you - I value my health and well-being." CATHERINE ANN