Minggu, 14 Februari 2021

Covid-19: Vaccine given to 15 million in UK 'significant milestone' - BBC News

People queuing outside a vaccination centre in Folkestone, Kent
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At least 15 million people in the UK have had their first coronavirus jab, the prime minister has said.

The figure was reached just over two months after the first vaccine dose was given in the UK on 8 December.

Boris Johnson described it as a "significant milestone" and an "extraordinary feat".

It came as ministers said the UK was on track to meet its pledge of offering a vaccine to everyone in the top four priority groups by Monday.

From Monday, the vaccine rollout is being expanded to include over-65s and those deemed clinically vulnerable.

In a video, Mr Johnson said: "It has been a truly national, UK-wide effort. We have done it together.

"And in England, I can tell you we have now offered jabs to everyone in the first four priority groups, the people most likely to be severely ill from coronavirus, hitting the first target we set ourselves."

But "no-one is resting on their laurels," the PM said.

"We've still got a long way to go to. And there will undoubtedly be bumps in the road. But after all we've achieved, I know we can go forward with great confidence."

'Route to freedom'

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said it was a "remarkable shared achievement" - reached 10 weeks after the first vaccine was administered in the UK.

"The NHS vaccination programme is the biggest and fastest in Europe - and in the health service's history - and that is down to the skill, care, and downright hard work of our fantastic staff, supported by local communities, volunteers and the armed forces," he said.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it meant one in every four adults was now "starting to receive protection from this dreadful disease".

But he cautioned: "There is so much more to do and I urge anyone eligible to step forward and take up their appointment. The vaccine is our route to freedom - we will beat this virus jab by jab."

So far the vaccination programme has been aimed at the top four priority groups, including NHS frontline staff, care home residents and workers, over-70s, and people deemed clinically extremely vulnerable.

These groups have accounted for 88% of the UK's Covid-19 deaths so far, according to the Department of Health and Social Care and are estimated by the JCVI to be some 15 million people.

A small number of the 15 million to receive a jab will have been outside these priority groups.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi tweeted that the government would "not rest" until vaccines were offered to all of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's top nine priority groups by the end of April and then to all adults.

Ruth Rankine, director of the NHS Confederation's PCN Network of GP practices, paid tribute to the "incredible accomplishment" but added that "until everyone is protected, no one is protected".

"There is still work to do to administer first doses to all the remaining people from the first four cohorts, as well as moving down the cohorts until everyone has at least been offered a jab, not to mention beginning the work of administering second doses," she said.

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Analysis box by Nick Triggle, health correspondent

It is undeniable the vaccine programme has over all been a success - only Israel and the United Arab Emirates have done more jabs per head.

But as well as pushing ahead with the under-70s, efforts need to continue to reach out to those not yet vaccinated in these first groups.

There have been reports of housebound patients still waiting, while some have questioned whether enough has been done to reach out to those who have concerns and have not taken up the offer.

The fear is uptake may be lowest in some of the most vulnerable communities and that risks widening health inequalities.

People will also ask what this means for unlocking. Those offered the jab account for around five in six deaths but just over half of hospitalisations.

That leaves a lot of vulnerable at risk - and with the numbers in hospital still above the peak in the first wave, the NHS isn't yet out of the woods.

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From Monday, the vaccination programme enters a new phase, with over-65s and the clinically vulnerable being invited to book a jab.

The JCVI defines clinically vulnerable people as those with conditions including chronic respiratory disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and severe asthma.

Some regions have already started vaccinating people aged 65 to 69, with NHS England having previously said that people in this age group could get a vaccine if GPs had supplies.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab rejected calls from MPs in his party to put a date on when England's lockdown measures will be eased, saying the government will be "cautious".

The lockdown-sceptic Covid Recovery Group said all restrictions must be lifted by the end of April.

Mr Raab told the BBC's Andrew Marr: "We share all of the ambition and the desire to get out of this lockdown. We want to do it responsibly and safely and therefore it's got to be based on the evidence," adding, "You can't get ahead of the evidence of the impact of the vaccine on the transmission."

On Saturday, the prime minister said he was "optimistic" he will be able to set out plans later this month for a "cautious" easing of England's lockdown, citing "huge progress" made with the vaccine rollout.

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The UK is currently administering doses of two vaccines approved by the medicine regulator - the Pfizer-BioNTech jab and the one developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca.

A third vaccine, made by US company Moderna, has been approved but supplies are not expected to be available until spring.

The UK is also lined up to receive at least three other vaccines if they are approved for use.

Its vaccination rate is the third highest in the world, behind only Israel and the UAE.

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2021-02-14 15:26:00Z
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