16 May 2021
Public urged to take up their second doses as soon as they are eligible to get fullest possible protection
Health services across the UK have now administered a total of 56,677,012 million vaccines between 8 December and 15 May, including 36,573,354 million people with their first dose (69.4%) and 20,103,658 million with their second (38.2%).
The government met its target of offering a vaccine to the most vulnerable by 15 April, and remains on track to offer a first dose to all adults by the end of July.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:
We have more great news about the vaccination rollout and are making extraordinary strides as 20 million people now have the fullest possible protection from this virus - huge thanks to the team for hitting this milestone.
14 May 2021
Second COVID-19 vaccine dose to be offered to the most vulnerable earlier to help protect against variants
Strengthened surge testing, genome sequencing and enhanced contact tracing measures deployed across the North West to control spread
Military providing planning and logistical support
The country’s most vulnerable are to be offered their second COVID-19 vaccine earlier, the government has announced, as part of plans to tackle rising cases of the B1.617.2 variant of concern first identified in India.
Appointments for a second dose of a vaccine will be brought forward from 12 to 8 weeks for the remaining people in the top 9 priority groups who have yet to receive their second dose. This is to ensure people across the UK have the strongest possible protection from the virus at an earlier opportunity.
How to book a Covid vaccine as those aged 38 and over invited for first jab
The move to the next age group comes alongside nearly three-quarters of people aged between 40 and 49 having had their first dose
15:43, 13 MAY 2021
Updated
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The Government s Covid vaccination programme has moved to the next stage, with anyone aged 38 to 39 in England able to book their first dose.
New Public Health England (
PHE) analysis indicates that the COVID-19 vaccination programme prevented 11,700 deaths in those aged 60 and older in England up to the end of April – an additional 1,300 since the previous update.
For the first time, analysis also suggests that at least 33,000 hospitalisations were prevented in those aged 65 and older in England, in the same time period.
The work compared the observed number of deaths with the number of deaths that would have been expected if the vaccine hadn’t been given during this time period.
Using this method,
PHE estimates that around 11,700 deaths were prevented by the end of April – 9,900 in those aged 80 and over, 1,500 in those aged 70 to 79 and 300 in those aged 60 to 69.