Out of the 1.3million people vaccinated in the UK, 650,000 are over 80 years old, representing 23 percent of the age bracket. “That means nearly one-in-four of the most vulnerable groups will have in two to three weeks a significant degree of immunity,” he said.
“That is why I believe the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation was right to draw up a programme saving the most lives the fastest.”
But the positive message was coupled with sour statistics which indicate one in 50 – over a million people, in England now have coronavirus.
The horrific figures from the Office of National Statistics show the infections are even higher in some regions of the UK.
In London, one in every 30 people are estimated to have had Covid between December 27 and January 2.
Today 60,916 new coronavirus cases were recorded by the UK Government – the highest on record.
There has been a 43.7 percent increase in positive tests in the past week.
The number of deaths is also drastically rising, with 4,738 registered within the last seven days, representing a 45.3 percent rise on the week before.
Mr Johnson said the statistics meant the Government had “no choice” but to introduce a new lockdown for England last night.
But remaining upbeat about the UK’s road out of coronavirus restrictions, he said: “By February 15, as I said last night, the NHS is committed to offering a vaccination to everyone in the top four priority groups including older care home residents and staff, everyone over 70, all frontline NHS and care staff and all those who are clinically extremely vulnerable.
“And to help us with meeting this target we already have 595 GP-led sites providing vaccines, with a further 180 coming on stream later this week.
“We have 107 hospital sites – with a further 100 later this week.
“That is almost a thousand vaccination sites across the country by the end of this week, and next week we will also have seven vaccination centres opening in places such as sports stadia and exhibition centres.”
More to follow…
