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More than 2.6 million doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered to nearly 2.3 million people, the health secretary said, as an NHS chief warned that the vaccine “is not a free pass” to ignore. national guidelines.
Matt Hancock told a news conference in Downing Street that the government was on track to achieve its commitment to vaccinate the four priority groups of vaccines by mid-February, a total of 15 million Britons.
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“We are on the way to reach that goal, it will not be easy, but we will achieve it,” he said.
The four priority groups are: nursing home residents and staff; all people aged 80 and over and front-line health and social care workers; people aged 75 or over; all people aged 70 and over and people classified as extremely vulnerable.
Hancock said that people in these groups account for 88% of COVID deaths, adding that two-fifths of those over the age of 80 and “almost a quarter of nursing home residents” have received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
The Health Secretary spoke amid continuing speculation about whether England’s third lockdown could be strengthened.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that the government “may have to do more” if ministers feel that the rules are “not being observed correctly.”
When asked if this was a possibility, Hancock said people should focus on sticking to the current rules “as is.”
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“The NHS, more than ever, needs everyone to be doing something right now, and that something is following the rules,” he said.
“I know there has been speculation about further restrictions and we do not rule out taking further action if necessary, but it is your actions now that can make the difference.
“Stay home and please cut down on any social contact that is not absolutely necessary. That’s what it takes: act like you have the virus.”
The health secretary said the new “highly contagious” coronavirus variant first identified in the UK was “putting the NHS under very significant pressure”, with 32,294 people currently hospitalized with the virus across the UK, a 22% more than at this time last week.
Professor Stephen Powis, England’s NHS National Medical Director, said there are now 13,000 more COVID patients in hospital than on Christmas Day.
In establishing the four-part plan for vaccine implementation, Hancock said the government will focus on supply, prioritization, expansion of the number of sites and the workforce, and said 80,000 people are involved in the effort.
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Professor Powis said the vaccine is the “best line of defense we have,” and that there is currently a sprint, there will be another sprint after April and then a marathon for everyone else to get vaccinated in the fall.
Appearing before MPs earlier, NHS England CEO Sir Simon Stevens said the aim was to deliver a coup to everyone over 50 by the end of April.
The UK government’s COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Plan says there will be more than 2,700 vaccination sites across the UK, with all in England within 10 miles of one by the end of January.
For those who live in remote rural areas, mobile teams will deliver the vaccine.
The Health Department said there will be capacity to administer “at least” two million injections per week in England by the end of this month, and that staff and residents of residences will receive a vaccination before February.
Workers who “provide key public services,” likely a reference to teachers, transportation workers and first responders, could be included in the second phase of the vaccine launch, according to the plan.
A workforce of more than 80,000 healthcare workers could participate in the vaccination plan, the Department of Health added, along with more than 200,000 community volunteers who have volunteered to help with the non-clinical aspects of the program.
