Over-30s now invited to get a vaccination

ABOUT 1million people in their 30s will today receive texts inviting them to book Covid vaccinations.

Those aged 38 and 39 will be offered the Pfizer or Moderna jabs after regulators warned there was a one-in-60,000 risk of blood clots for those in their 30s from the AstraZeneca version.

Another 484,145 jabs were administered across the UK yesterday – with first doses now received by 53.5 per cent of the population and 27.6 per cent fully vaccinated. Nearly three-quarters of people in their 40s have now had their first dose, NHS England said, while uptake among the over 60s has reached 90 per cent.

The government said it remains on course to offer a first dose to every adult by the end of July.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said: ‘Vaccines are our way out of the pandemic and I urge everybody to get the vaccine as soon as they are eligible.’

It came as the UK recorded another 11 deaths, taking the official total to 127,640, and 2,284 daily cases.

Meanwhile, a study has suggested that countries may wish to consider following the UK in delaying second coronavirus vaccinations in a bid to save lives.

Modelling by experts in the US shows that delaying the second dose so that more people can receive a first dose could reduce deaths by up to a fifth. Published in the British Medical Journal, one example showed if a first dose offered 80 per cent protection against Covid, deaths fell to 207 per 100,000 people if the second dose was delayed.