One dose cuts chances of hospital admission by 90%

JUST one vaccine dose slashes the risk of being hospitalised by 90 per cent, says a study.

Ministers have reportedly been told the Oxford jab is better than the Pfizer vaccine in preventing admissions.

But a single shot from either cuts the risk of treatment substantially, the NHS vaccination programme shows.

The rollout has forged ahead of European neighbours, with all adults set to have one dose by July 31. Latest data show that more than 20 million have now had their first jab.

Meanwhile, Germany has only used 15 per cent of its Oxford shots and some states are considering giving it to younger people. Prime ministers in BadenWuerttemberg, Bavaria and Saxony said: “We cannot afford the vaccine sitting around and not being used because some of those entitled reject it.”

Oxford vaccine boss Professor Sarah Gilbert expects to have a version for new variants by autumn.

Prof Gilbert said: “You decide what antigen you want to use from the virus you want to make a vaccine against, exactly which version of it, and then you just slot it in and you make your vaccine.”

THE crisis has brought communities together and created a new army of volunteers keen to continue, research suggests.

A survey of nearly 160,000 people, by among others the Royal Voluntary Service, indicated society in the UK has pulled together during the pandemic.

And the new, stronger connections could help drive a change in social connection.

Bishop Nick Baines, who chaired trustees of the group behind the report, said despite the challenges, “people responded by pulling together, not apart… quite remarkable, given how divided our society looked as Britain entered 2020”.