Half of all UK adults have been vaccinated, Matt Hancock says

Health secretary hails ‘national success story’ of vaccine programme

Half of all UK adults have now received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, Matt Hancock has said.

The health secretary said more people received the jab on Friday than on any other day as he praised the NHS vaccine programme as a “national success story”.

In total, 26.8 million people received their first dose between 8 December and 19 March, while 2.1 million people have had their second dose so far. Almost 95 per cent of people aged 60 and over have had at least one jab.

The government said the rollout was still on track to achieve the target of offering the vaccine to all over-50s by 15 April, as well as all adults by the end of July, despite reports of delivery delays in the coming weeks.

Mr Hancock said: “Vaccinating over half of all adults is a phenomenal achievement and is testament to the mammoth efforts of the NHS, GPs, volunteers, local authorities and civil servants in every corner of the UK.

“It shows the strength of the Union and what can be achieved when we work together as one United Kingdom to protect those most at risk. But the job is not done yet.

“During April, we will continue to vaccinate those most at risk and around 12 million people will receive their second doses as well. It is absolutely crucial people come forward as soon as they are eligible. When you get the call, get the jab, because the more people who are vaccinated the safer we will all be.”

The latest government data up to 18 March suggested 49.9 per cent of the UK population aged 18 and over had received a first dose of the vaccine, with an estimated 73,000 more jabs needed to pass the halfway mark.

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Those figures are expected to be updated later on Saturday.

Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccines minister, said: “I would like to thank everybody involved in this incredible vaccination programme across the whole of the UK for their tireless dedication to protecting the most vulnerable and saving lives

“This is a momentous occasion and while the vaccines are the best way out of this terrible pandemic, the battle is not yet over.

“We continue to do everything we can to expand the vaccination programme even further and encourage people of all backgrounds and religions to get their jabs when eligible.”

Around 4 per cent of the adult population have had their second doses so far and there will be a drive to vaccinate people with the second jabs within 12 weeks, as well as continuing to vaccinate those in the priority groups with first doses.

The Moderna vaccine has also been approved by the UK regulator and will be deployed from the spring. The Janssen and Novavax vaccines could also be rolled out subject to a review of the safety and efficacy data.

Public Health England’s real-world study shows that both the Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines are highly effective in reducing Covid-19 among older people aged 70 years and over.

The government has said the data already shows both jabs are having a significant impact on reducing hospitalisations and deaths.

It comes as countries across Europe have had to impose tougher restrictions amid a rise in Covid-19 cases, with UK scientists warning overseas holidays this summer will be "extremely unlikely".

Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the Spi-M modelling group which advises the government, said there was a danger new variants could jeopardise the vaccination programme later in the year.

Other experts have also warned there could be a third wave of Covid-19 infections in the UK and advised people not to consider overseas holidays when restrictions ease later this year.

Infectious disease expert Dr Tildesley told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think that international travel this summer is, for the average holidaymaker, sadly I think, extremely unlikely.

"I think we are running a real risk if we do start to have lots of people going overseas in July and August because of the potential for bringing more of these new variants back into the country.

"What is really dangerous is if we jeopardise our vaccination campaign by having these variants where the vaccines don't work as effectively spreading more rapidly."

Government sources said the UK needs to be wary of what is happening in Europe "because in the past that has led to a rise here a few weeks later", although how things will pan out is uncertain.

European countries are seeing pockets of the South African variant, with studies suggesting vaccines work less well against this variant.

In the UK, hospital admissions and deaths are still coming down due to the effect of vaccines, but there are worries that cases could rise quickly once restrictions are eased.

Additional reporting by PA