VACCINES SAVE 10,000 LIVES
So do the right thing and get yours done, urge ministers
MINISTERS urged Britons to ‘do the right thing for their country’ and get vaccinated yesterday as figures revealed the jab has saved 10,400 lives.
Tens of thousands turned up at ‘heaving’ vaccine centres, calming fears that uptake could be dented by concerns over rare blood clots.
Officials have launched a campaign to maintain confidence in jabs after medical regulators advised that under-30s should be offered an alternative to the Oxford/ AstraZeneca inoculation.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that, while getting Covid-19 could ‘essentially ruin your life’, the small risk of developing a blood clot from the jab was the same as from taking a long-haul flight.
And a new study by Public Health England found the rollout has prevented 10,400
‘When you get the call, get the jab’
deaths in over-60s since the first jab was given to Margaret Keenan on December 8. PHE compared the number of Covid-19 deaths until the end of March with the expected number had millions of over-60s not been immunised.
They estimated the vaccine had stopped 9,100 deaths in those aged 80 and over, 1,200 in 70 to 79 year olds and 100 in 60 to 69s.
Mr Hancock said: ‘That’s more than 10,000 families who haven’t suffered the loss of a loved one.
‘The science is clear – vaccines save lives. All three of our approved vaccines have been deemed safe and effective by our world- class independent medicines regulator.
‘The figures published today show why it’s so vital people get their second dose too. When people get the call, they should get the jab.’
On Wednesday UK medical regulators concluded the AstraZeneca vaccine was a ‘reasonably plausible’ cause of 79 cases of unusual blood clots, including 19 deaths.
The NHS has now cancelled thousands of appointments for those aged 18-29 who were booked in to get their first dose of the AZ jab.
Most under-30s are not yet eligible but those who are, such as unpaid carers, will be rebooked with a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
The new advice from medical regulators has led to fears younger adults could shun the jab.
However, Mr Hancock said vaccinations are ‘the right thing for them, and the right thing for their loved ones, and ultimately the right thing for the country’.
Professor Jeremy Brown, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, urged the young to get vaccinated so they can go on holiday and see relatives again. Despite the setback with the AstraZeneca jab, the Government is on track to meet its target of offering all over-50s their first dose by April 15.
Yesterday NHS data revealed 90 per cent of people in their 50s have now been vaccinated. So far 31.8 million people in total have had at least one dose of the vaccine, and six million both doses.
More than 500,000 jabs were delivered on Wednesday, despite concerns over a squeeze on supplies.
Officials are trying to ensure those who have had their first AZ dose still come forward for their second. Regulators have found no reports of clots after second doses.
Yesterday, there was little sign that warnings over the blood clots have knocked vaccine confidence. Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the JCVI, insisted ‘the vaccination programme is going full steam ahead’.
A volunteer at the Tessa Jowell vaccination centre in East Dulwich, south- east London, said it had been ‘heaving’. She added: ‘It’s been constant all day. We have had really good turnout.’
Those getting their jab yesterday largely rejected fears over blood clots, although some younger adults did reject the AZ jab.
Husband and wife Sue and Eddie Styring received their second Pfizer dose together at Ealing, west London. Mr Styring, 76, said: ‘The benefits of any jab outweigh the risks by a long way. I wouldn’t be concerned about the AstraZeneca. It’s a tremendous relief to be vaccinated. We’ll celebrate by hugging our grandchildren in a short while.’ However, one 39-year-old woman walked away from her appointment in Ealing after seeing the only jab was from AstraZeneca.
Veronica, a finance administrator who did not want to give her surname, said: ‘I’m scared after seeing the possibility of what could happen. Many of my friends think the same. They are a bit worried.’
And one GP in Surrey, Dr David Triska, said some patients are now cancelling their AZ jab.
He said: ‘We have been inundated with consultations relating to headaches and people defaulting their AstraZeneca appointment to try to get another vaccine. We are reassuring them the balance of risk is in favour of receiving the vaccine.’