[ad_1]
More than 15 million people in the UK have received a first dose of a coronavirus puncture, the prime minister said.
Boris Johnson released a video in which he called it an “extraordinary feat.”
“In England, I can tell you that we have now delivered hits to everyone in the first four priority groups, the people most likely to be seriously ill from coronavirus, hitting the first target we set for ourselves,” Johnson said.
While the 15 million figure was a key indicator of the goal he set on January 4, it is not yet known whether the goal of delivering a first hit to everyone in all UK nations of the four initial groups has been met.
The four initial target groups are:
- Residents of nursing homes and their carers
- Front-line health and social care workers
- Everyone over 70
- Clinically extremely vulnerable people
Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi tweeted that the government would “not rest” until the vaccine is offered to everyone over 50 by the end of April, and then to all adults.
Ministers have been praised for the speed with which the vaccine was launched, well ahead of European neighbors.
More than half a million people each day had the jab on Thursday and Friday, with an average of seven days for the first shot of more than 441,000.
Margaret Keenan, 90, was in the media spotlight on December 8 when she became the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer vaccine outside of a clinical trial.
Margaret Keenan made world headlines when she took the hit in early December
The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine was also approved on December 30, helping to dramatically increase the number of vaccines available.
Last month, the program rapidly expanded to include larger vaccination centers, smaller centers run by GPs, as well as some pharmacies and hospitals.
Mosques, museums, rugby fields and cathedrals are also now among the more than 1,500 sites across the country.
Since Monday, vaccines will begin at age 65 and clinically more vulnerable people.
Nearly 1.2 million letters were due to arrive on Saturday asking people to sign up to receive their jabs as part of the next phase of the program.
People who receive a letter will be able to choose where to receive their vaccine at more than 100 large-scale vaccination centers or almost 200 pharmacy services.
[ad_2]
