…but UK steams on with Moderna rollout and call-up to the over-45s
OVER-45s were invited to get a Covid vaccine for the first time as the Moderna jab also started being offered to patients in England.
The NHS booking website crashed briefly as those in the newly eligible cohort clamoured to secure their spot. About 3.7million more people can now book a jab.
Health Minister Matt Hancock also said he was ‘delighted’ to have hit his target of offering a jab to all 32million people in the top nine priority groups – which 99 per cent of Covid deaths belong to – by April 15.
It came as the Moderna vaccine became the third Covid jab to be distributed in England – alongside existing vaccines offered by Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
The Moderna jab will be available from 21 sites in England this week, including Reading’s Madejski Stadium and the Sheffield Arena, with more to follow.
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said: ‘We are making phenomenal progress, but we continue to remain focused to make sure nobody is left behind.’
Professor Jeremy Brown, a member of the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation, said it was vital that people weren’t overlooked for the vaccine.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘The problem here is that 5 to 10 per cent have not been vaccinated.
‘When the virus recirculates through the community they could get infected and end up in hospital. So it’s vitally important that we get that last few per cent.’
The UK medicine regulator is still assessing the Janssen and Novavax vaccines via its rolling reviews.