Getting jab done! Four in five of us fully vaccinated

FOUR in five people aged over 16 are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19, data shows.

A total of 43,535,098 second doses have been delivered since the UK’s vaccine rollout began in December. That is the equivalent of 80.1 per cent of all over 16s.

And experts estimate 88.8 per cent of the adult population has received one dose of the jab.

The figures came as No.10 denied it was planning a so-called ‘firebreak lockdown’ in England for the October half-term.

An unnamed member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies was quoted by the i newspaper as saying the precautionary measure for two weeks at the end of October was ‘by no means out of the question’.

But vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi (pictured) said he had not seen any such plans.

He added that he hoped Covid could be dealt with ‘year in, year out’ without the measures first resorted to in March 2020.

No.10 said contingency plans remained in place ‘for a range of scenarios’. And an insider insisted shutdowns would ‘ only be reintroduced as a last resort’ to protect the NHS. Meanwhile, Prof Robin Shattock, head of mucosal infection and immunity at Imperial College London, expressed concern that some people no longer wore masks in crowded spaces and on public transport. He said the coverings were ‘still very relevant’ and he urged the public to stay cautious to stop the spread of virus.

He told Times Radio the elderly were likely to get an updated booster jab in the winter of next year.