Covid vaccine: More than 10 million people have received both doses, figures show

Vaccines ‘offer us best possible protection’, says Boris Johnson

More than 10 million people in the UK have now received a second dose of coronavirus vaccine, according to official figures.

The figure means that almost one in five adults (19 per cent) in the UK have now received both doses of vaccine.

Announcing the milestone had been passed, Boris Johnson said that vaccines “offer us the best possible protection” against Covid-19 and urged all those who are invited to receive them to come forward. 

Official figures showed that at total of 43,084,487 vaccine doses have been administered between the start of the programme on 8 December and 18 April.

These included 32,932,448 first doses and 10,152,039 returning for their second jab.

Mr Johnson said: “Vaccines offer us the best possible protection from the virus, so it is fantastic that 10 million people have now received their second dose.

“This is another remarkable milestone in our vaccination programme, which has already saved thousands of lives.

“I want to thank the brilliant staff and volunteers involved in the rollout, and urge all those who are called to keep coming forward.”

Health secretary Matt Hancock, who was due to update MPs on the Covid pandemic in the House of Commons, said the figures were “terrific”.

“Second doses are crucial to maximising the strength and duration of your protection from Covid-19 and I’m urging everybody eligible to get their jab as soon as possible,” said Mr Hancock.

A government spokesman said the programme is “on track” to offer a jab to all adults by the end of July.

And vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said that the jabs have already saved more than 10,000 lives, according to data from Public Health England