[ad_1]
More than 2.5 million people in England have already received their second dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and more than one in three of them have been administered in the last week.
More than 25 million people in England have been vaccinated with their first dose, and the number of people receiving their second dose has reached a new weekly high.
About 900,000 people took their second hit in the past week, NHS England said, about double the number the week before.
The focus is now on ensuring that people in the highest-risk cohorts have had the opportunity to be vaccinated, ahead of the goal of offering all priority groups their first vaccine by April 15.
With a smaller supply of doses available next month, NHS England continues to urge people aged 50 and over or with an underlying health condition to get their first shot. He said three out of four people ages 50 to 54 have been beaten so far, up from the middle of the last week.
Dr Nikki Kanani, NHS Primary Care Physician and Chief Medical Officer, said: “The NHS in England has vaccinated 25 million people, which is an incredible achievement by NHS staff across the country, who have kept working at high speed.
“At the same time it is increasing second doses week after week, the NHS is reaching out to people aged 50 to 69 who have not yet accepted the offer to get vaccinated. If you are one of those people who has not yet booked a first dose, please come forward and get the Covid-19 vaccine that saved your life and that will not only protect you but those around you. “
Across the UK, government data up to March 26 shows that of the 33,020,952 punctures administered so far, 29,727,435 were first doses, an increase from 411,305 the day before. 3,293,517 were second doses, an increase of 283,654.
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director, said: “This is the latest major milestone showing rapid and targeted progress in protecting people in England from the coronavirus.
“While dose supplies will be reduced next month, anyone with a second jab booked should come forward, and our other top priority is to remind everyone who is 50 or older or has an underlying health condition that their first jab is available to them, now and throughout the month of April. “
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last week that there will be a significant drop in vaccine supply in April, confirming that supplies have been hit by the need to retest 1.7 million doses and a delay in the arrival of imports from India.
India has sold or given away around 59 million doses of vaccines abroad, compared to 37 million it has administered at home, with another 38 million distributed to state governments and awaiting use.
