Over 65s next in line as 15 million vaccinated
MORE than 15 million people in the UK have now had a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
The Prime Minister confirmed the milestone and described it as an “extraordinary feat” to have vaccinated millions of the most vulnerable people in the country.
Boris Johnson also said that in England jabs have been offered to everyone in the Government’s top four priority groups.
The top priority was care home residents and their carers, followed by people over the age of 80 and frontline health and social care workers.
The third priority group was people aged 75 and over, and the fourth group was people over the age of 70 and those deemed to be “clinically extremely vulnerable”.
Government data up to February 13 shows that of the 15,599,904 jabs given in the UK so far, 15,062,189 were first doses - a rise of 505,362 on the previous day.
Some 537,715 were second doses, an increase of 2,846 on figures released the previous day.
In a video posted on Twitter, Mr Johnson said: “We have reached a significant milestone in the United Kingdom’s national vaccination programme... This country has achieved an extraordinary feat, administering a total of 15 million jabs into the arms of some of the most vulnerable people.”
But he added: “Of course, no one is resting on their laurels.
“In fact, the first million or so letters offering appointments to the over 65s are already landing on doorsteps.”
BORIS Johnson has hailed a “significant milestone” as the number of people in the UK receiving a coronavirus vaccine passed 15 million.
The Prime Minister said it was an “extraordinary feat” just over two months after 91-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first person in the world to receive a Covid-19 jab as part of a mass vaccination programme.
It puts the Government firmly on course to meet it target of offering a first dose to everyone in the the UK in its top four priority groups - including all over-70s - by Monday.
In a video message posted on Twitter, Mr Johnson confirmed it had already been passed in England, while on Friday First Minister Mark Drakeford said it had been reached in Wales.
The Prime Minister said: “Today we have reached a significant milestone in the United Kingdom’s national vaccination programme.
“This country has achieved an extraordinary feat - administering a total of 15 million jabs into the arms of some of the most vulnerable people in the country.”
The announcement paves the way for the rollout to be extended to the next five groups - including the over50s - who are due to be completed by the end of April.
In England, 1.2 million letters have already gone out to 65 to 69 year-olds and the clinically vulnerable inviting them to book an appointment.
The news will also intensify the pressure on ministers to begin easing lockdown restrictions and re-opening the economy.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab rejected an “arbitrary” demand by lockdown-sceptic Tories in the Covid Research Group to commit to lifting all legal restrictions in England by the end of April.
Ministers will now begin their review of the restrictions ahead of an announcement by Mr Johnson on February 22 setting out his “roadmap” out of lockdown.
More than 60 MPs in the CRG are backing a letter to the Prime Minister insisting he commit to a firm timetable for ending controls.
They said schools “must” return on March 8 as planned with pubs and restaurants opening in a “commercially viable manner” from Easter, with the end of April marking the final end of lockdown. Mr Raab, however, said that, while ministers wanted to lift controls as quickly as possible, it was essential to ensure the disease was under control first. We do need to be very careful how we proceed. We have made good progress. We don’t want to see that unravel because we go too far too quick,” he told Sky News. “We are not making what feels to me like a slightly arbitrary commitment without reviewing the impact that measures have had on the transmission and the hospital admissions of the virus.”