Johnson hails milestone as all over-50s offered jab ahead of April 15 deadline

Vaccine programme now moves on to those aged 45-49 as Moderna version rolls out in England

BRITAIN has hit “a hugely significant milestone” and offered jabs to everyone over the age of 50, Boris Johnson has said, as a third vaccine is deployed to boost rollout in younger groups.

Twenty sites across England will start administering the Moderna jab today, along with Pfizer and Astrazeneca, in a bid to offer a first jab to all adults by July. Vaccine bookings will open online for those aged 45 to 49, with text message invitations targeting those at the upper end of the range.

Last night, the Prime Minister announced that the April 15 target for first doses has been achieved, with the programme now moving to younger groups. Mr Johnson said: “We have now passed another hugely significant milestone by offering jabs to everyone in the nine highest risk groups. That means more than 32million people have been given the precious protection vaccines provide against Covid.

“I want to thank everyone involved in the vaccine rollout which has already saved many thousands of lives. We will now move forward with completing essential second doses and making progress towards our target of offering all adults a vaccine by the end of July.”

Nearly 40million doses have now been given in total to those in the top nine priority groups, as well as the clinically vulnerable and health and social care workers.

Last week, research by Public Health England found that the programme has already saved more than 10,000 lives, with those in the top nine groups accounting for 99 per cent of deaths.

The April 15 deadline was hit despite a slowdown in the rollout of first doses in recent weeks, with a shortfall of Astrazeneca supplies, and the decision from watchdogs that under-30s should be offered an alternative to Astrazeneca, because of a link to rare blood clots.

Today Moderna jabs will begin being administered in England, with the vaccine having begun being deployed in Wales last week. Around 50,000 doses are expected this month.

These vaccines will be prioritised for those under 30 who were eligible for jabs, because of jobs as health or care workers, or caring responsibilities, but had appointments cancelled because of the changed advice on Astrazeneca.

The boost in supplies comes as the programme continues to move through younger age groups, ahead of a target to offer jabs to all adults by the end of July.

With supplies constrained during April, it is expected to take several weeks before all those in their 40s are offered their first vaccine, as the programme ramps up in May. A fourth vaccine, from Johnson & Johnson, is expected to get the green light from regulators shortly, but supplies are not expected to start arriving until July.