All over-50s in the UK have now been offered a first Covid vaccine dose

All adults over-50s in the UK have now been offered their first dose of a Covid vaccine, the Government has announced. The Government aimed to offer the coronavirus vaccine to all of its top nine priority groups by 15 April, but has met its target three days ahead of schedule. Almost 40 million doses of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines have been administered in the UK since the rollout began in December 2020 the Government has said, including 32 million first jabs and more than seven million second doses. Those in their late 40s are expected to begin being invited for the vaccine this week, with the Joint Committee on Vaccine and Immunisation (JCVI) to set out its final advice for the completion of the Covid vaccination programme. ‘We have now passed another hugely significant milestone’ Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked those involved with the vaccination rollout and said the UK remains on course to offer a first jab to all adults by the end of July. In a statement, Mr Johnson said: “We have now passed another hugely significant milestone in our vaccine programme by offering jabs to everyone in the nine highest risk groups,” he said. “That means more than 32 million people have been given the precious protection vaccines provide against Covid 19. “I want to thank everyone involved in the vaccine rollout which has already saved many thousands of lives. “We will now move forward with completing essential second doses and making progress towards our target of offering all adults a vaccine by the end of July.” In England, NHS patients are also now expected to receive the Moderna coronavirus vaccine from Tuesday (13 April). Professor Stephen Powis, medical director for NHS England, said: “We now have a third jab in our armoury and NHS staff will be using it at more than 20 sites from this week, with more coming online as supplies expand.”