... but cheer as Covid jabs pass the 50m mark in UK

BRITAIN yesterday passed the milestone of 50million Covid jabs administered.

More than a quarter of adults have received both doses, meaning they are fully vaccinated, and all are expected to be offered their first jab by July 31.

The success of the vaccine programme means the country is set for a ‘great summer’, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last night.

The UK is only the third country to reach the 50million mark after the US and India, which have much larger populations.

Data show that the vaccinations are effective at cutting infections, hospitalisations and deaths, and reducing transmission of coronavirus.

It means every shot takes the country a step closer to the end of lockdown.

The rollout in England is expected to move on to those in their 30s this week – but the target could suffer a setback if Government advisers recommend people in this age group should not receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is set to meet today on the next steps and a decision is expected imminently.

It has previously advised that those under 30 receive an alternative to the AstraZeneca jab, which was linked to an increased risk of rare but potentially fatal blood clots.

The JCVI could raise this age threshold – potentially to 35 – but this would have an impact on supplies and distribution and could cause delays.

A source said: ‘All options are on the table and it’s a finely balanced and difficult decision.

‘There is the need to weigh the benefits of a rapid rollout against the potential risks of the Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine in the younger age groups.

‘As infection rates in the community get lower, the balance may tip more in favour of using a different vaccine.’

Official figures yesterday showed the UK has adminisvideo tered 50,089,549 Covid vaccines, of which 34,588,600 are first doses – a daily rise of 83,220.

Some 15,500,949 are second shots – a daily rise of 171,332 – and more than 29 per cent of all adults have now received two doses. Mr Hancock said in a posted on Twitter last night: ‘The UK vaccination programme has just delivered its 50millionth vaccine.

‘I want to say a massive thank you to everybody involved – the NHS of course, the scientists, the Armed Forces and the council personnel who’ve helped so much, and the volunteers who brought a real spirit to this programme.’

He added it ‘seems like only yesterday’ that Margaret Keenan, 91, became the first person in the world to be vaccinated outside a trial on December 8 in Coventry.

Mr Hancock said: ‘It is a lifesaving vaccine that helps protect you, helps protect those around you, and it is our route out of this pandemic. It is because of the vaccination programme that we’re able to keep going down this roadmap and I know we’re going to have a great British summer.’

Boris Johnson said ‘the way things are going, with the vaccine rollout going the way it is’, his roadmap out of lockdown remains on track.

The Prime Minister told reporters: ‘We have done 50million jabs – a quarter of the adult population, one in four, have had two jabs.

‘You are seeing the results of that really starting to show up in the epidemiology.

‘I think we will be able to go ahead – feels like May 17 is going to be good.’

‘Route out of this pandemic’