6m jabs and counting

In a spirit of optimism, let’s start the week by celebrating good Covid news.

The speed, reach and efficiency of Britain’s vaccination programme continues to be the envy of the world.

Three-quarters of over-80s have had at least one jab, new improvised centres are opening all over the country and injections have now topped 440,000 a day – with the overall total passing six million.

Birmingham alone has delivered a million doses – roughly the same as the whole of France. It’s a stunning achievement.

It means the Government target of vaccinating all 15 million of the oldest, most vulnerable and key frontline workers by mid-February is well within reach, holding out hopes of some release from this wretched lockdown.

Even Health Secretary and usually gloomster-in-chief Matt Hancock says he has ‘a high degree of confidence’ that we will be freed from all restrictions by early summer. For the sake of our economy and our sanity, let’s hope it’s earlier.

True, there is also less encouraging news. The British Medical Association has attacked Government scientists over the policy of leaving 12 weeks between doses of the Pfizer vaccine, instead of the WHO recommended maximum of six.

This will only increase confusion over the efficacy of a single jab. Some researchers say it may give just 33 per cent immunity, others that it could be 90 per cent. If experts disagree so widely, what hope does the public have of making a judgment?

Sadly, this troubling public spat comes as the Government is trying to reassure members of ethnic minority communities suspicious of having the jab that they have nothing to fear. That is a message that cannot be weakened. It must ring out loud and clear.