More than seven in 10 adults in the UK have received their first Covid-19 vaccine, new figures show.
The Department of Health and Social Care said that health services across the UK had administered 57.8 million vaccines, including 36.9 million people with their first dose – or 70.2% of the adult population.
Meanwhile, 20.8 million people – almost two-fifths (39.6%) of the adult population – had received both doses.
This news comes after health officials have sped up the timetable to offer second jabs in a bid to ensure that those at highest risk are protected from the variant of the virus first identified in India.
At the same time, the programmes are extending to younger age groups to try and mitigate risk.
The UK has launched a world-first clinical trial to see whether a booster vaccine dose could protect people against Covid-19 and its variants.
Seven existing vaccines are to be tested in the Cov-Boost trial to see which jabs could be used in any forthcoming autumn vaccination programme.
Some 2,886 people aged 30 and older are being recruited at 18 NHS sites from London to Glasgow, with the first booster jabs administered in early June.
Scientists want people who received their first dose of either Pfizer/BioNTech or AstraZeneca in December or January to sign up, and hope people aged 75 and over will also come forward.
19 May 2021
Government launches implementation plan to deliver world-leading genomic healthcare to patients, improving diagnosis, treatment and prevention
Diversity and reach of genomics set to expand through engagement and research programmes to better treat deadly diseases such as cancer
Patients across the UK will benefit from better healthcare, treatments and faster diagnosis as the government sets out how it will continue to deliver world-leading genomic healthcare.
Genomics is the study of genetic information and can help diagnose diseases earlier and more accurately, reduce some invasive procedures and enable tailored treatments. Building on the success of the 100,000 Genomes Project, our commitment is to sequence 1 million whole genomes – 500,000 genomes in the NHS and 500,000 in UK Biobank, which will transform healthcare in the UK and create jobs. In 2018 to 2019, genomics contributed £1.9 billion to our economy.
Updates - Indian variant of Covid on rise in Birmingham as confusion mounts over travel and holidays
Health chiefs meet this afternoon in Birmingham to discuss the threat from the Indian variant, the rapid vaccine rollout under way and the key messages to the public on holidays and hugs
Updated
Signs on Colmore Row. (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)
The number of detected cases of coronavirus linked to the Indian variant is rising in Birmingham - with 29 cases now alerted, the city s public health chief said this afternoon. The highly transmissible B1617.2 strain now accounts for around one in ten cases in the city and other parts of the West Midlands.
Thousands of volunteers will get a booster jab as part of the trial. Seven existing vaccines are to be tested in the Cov-Boost trial to see which jabs could be used in any forthcoming autumn vaccination programme. Some 2,886 people aged 30 and older are being recruited at 18 NHS sites from London to Glasgow, with the first booster jabs administered in early June. Scientists want people who received their first dose of either Pfizer/BioNTech or AstraZeneca in December or January to sign up, and hope people aged 75 and over will also come forward. Experts believe that all seven vaccines will boost immunity, and lab studies will check their response to variants circulating in the UK, including those from India, Kent and South Africa.