Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MARCH OF THE VACCINE
» All over-50s ‘inoculated » 1 in 7 people now have before end of next month’ antibodies in N. Ireland
ALL over-50s could be vaccinated against coronavirus by March 24 under current rates of inoculation.
Analysis has pinpointed the date by which 32 million people in the top nine priority categories could be offered jabs – five weeks before the Government’s official end-of-april target.
The calculation is based on maintaining the current average daily injection rate of 435,000. In other positive developments yesterday:
■ Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi revealed that early data showed the effect inoculations are having on transmission is “really encouraging”.
■ ONS figures show the number of weekly registered deaths involving coronavirus in England and Wales has fallen for the first time since Christmas.
■ Data also found one in five people in England now has antibodies.
■ A world health chief backed plans for audiences to eventually flock back to theatres, cinemas and concerts through rapid testing.
Some 15,576,107 people across the UK have received a first vaccine dose.
Experts on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation are holding talks this week to thrash out plans for the next phase of the jabs rollout, for adults aged under 50.
Age rather than occupation is likely to remain the main factor, though ethnic minorities could be prioritised.
Mr Zahawi said supplies are “finite” but is confident the Government will hit its next target of jabbing 17 million more people, including over-50s and the at-risk, by April’s end.
Public Health England studies on the impact on hospitalisation, deaths and infection are ongoing.
But the Tory frontbencher said: “The Oxford team had some early data which is really encouraging on transmission, which has to be peer reviewed.”
Separate Office for National Statistics figures showed 7,320 deaths in the week ending February 5 with Covid on the death certificate – a fall of 1,113, or 13%, on the previous week. Total deaths registered from all causes are nearly 5,000 higher than the average for the time of year. ONS data also found one in five people in England has antibodies to Covid-19 – including people who have previously had the disease and those who have been vaccinated.
The figures were one in seven in Wales and Northern Ireland and one in nine in Scotland. Four in every ten 10 over-80s had antibodies. Professor Lawrence Young, of Warwick Medical School, said: “Antibody levels to the virus have increased across the UK.” Another 10,625 cases were recorded yesterday – with the seven-day total down 33% on the previous week. Daily deaths rose by 799 to 118,195 – but the rise was down 26% on the seven-day average. Some 1,487 Covid-19 patients were admitted to hospital – a 25% fall in the rolling seven-day total.
Boris Johnson is due to address the Commons on Monday, outlining his “road map” for lifting lockdown.
Edinburgh University professor of infectious disease epidemiology Mark Woolhouse believes figures showed some restrictions could be eased.
He said: “It needs to be driven by the data. In terms of vaccine rollout coverage and the performance of these vaccines in preventing disease at least, all the data is very positive.”
Meanwhile the Prime Minister has suggested vaccines and pregnancy test-style lateral flow tests are the best way to reopen “the toughest nuts to crack” in the hospitality industry – like concerts, theatres and cinemas.
World Health Organisation Covid-19 special envoy, Dr David Nabarro, backed the idea, saying: “The secret to
You should know better.. we’re all grown-ups, we shouldn’t be doing it, simple as POLICE OFFICER DURING RAID ON THE ‘COVID ARMS’
getting life back to some degree of normality for most of us is going to be availability of really reliable, super-quick tests.” Ministers have ruled out “vaccine passports” for immunised people to show before entering pubs and restaurants. But some businesses could need them – and the Government is talking to other countries about how Britons can provide vaccination proof to travel abroad. Dr Nabarro said: “Certificates for vaccination are likely to be required more for international travel and other activities where you’re going into a different jurisdiction. But for moving around (domestically) it will be rapid tests.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is under growing pressure to use next month’s Budget to outline fresh support for struggling sectors, though economic experts say some should be left to shed workers. Institute for Fiscal Studies director Paul Johnson said it was “important” to continue the furlough scheme in sectors “sustainable in the long run”, but warned: “Those that aren’t, it is time to stop supporting them once the lockdown ends. That’s going to prevent the recovery adjusting to whatever new normal it’s going to adjust to.”