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Clinical staff prepares AstraZeneca Covid19 vaccine at an NHS vaccination centre in Ealing, west London
(EPA)
Ministers are visiting vaccine centres around the UK in a final push for uptake amid continuing resistance from some groups.
This move comes as the government rushes to meet the mid-February target of inoculating the most vulnerable with an estimated 10 per cent of over 70s yet to come forward for their first jab.
According to data published on Friday, more than 14 million have been vaccinated with their first dose while more than 530,000 have received their second dose. Head of NHS England, Sir Simon Stevens, said it had been “the fastest and largest vaccination campaign in history.”
On Friday, officials said England and Wales have already hit their target of offering the vaccine to the top four priority groups by 15 February. NHS England said on Friday that the top four groups in England had now “been offered the opportunity to be vaccinated”.
In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford thanked “everyone who had been working around the clock to reach this point”.
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he hoped new drugs set to arrive toward the end of 2021 could make coronavirus a “treatable disease.” Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, he said new treatments could turn “Covid from a pandemic that affects all of our lives into another illness that we have to live with, like we do flu. That’s where we need to get Covid to over the months to come”.
Hancock says we could live with covid ‘like we do the flu’
(AP)
The Health Secretary has said vaccines, drugs and treatment could mean we eventually live with coronavirus as we do the common flu. Hancock said he hoped that new treatments designed to tackle coronavirus will make covid a “treatable disease” by the end of 2021.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Hancock said every adult in the UK may be offered the vaccine “a bit before” September as the rollout gains momentum.
He added that the development of new drugs could turn “Covid from a pandemic that affects all of our lives into another illness that we have to live with, like we do flu. That’s where we need to get Covid to over the months to come.”
Daisy Lester13 February 2021 09:30
UK ministers deployed to vaccine centres around the UK
Latest data shows around 90 per cent of over 70s have so far come forward for their first dose and the NHS are urging the remaining individuals to contact them. This comes as the government launch their plan to boost vaccine uptake in communities, from vaccination buses to WhatsApp groups and charity engagement.
Professor Stephen Powis, the NHS medical director, said: “People in the priority groups have not missed their chance to get jabbed and if you are aged 70 and over and haven’t yet taken up the offer please do come forward and make an appointment – the vaccine is safe, simple and will offer you and those around you crucial protection against this virus.”
Nearly 30 ministers will visit vaccination centres or conduct virtual meetings this weekend, including Priti Patel, home secretary, who will visitthe Guru Nanak Gurdwara Temple in Bedford. Gavin Williamson, education secretary, will visit the Whitemoor Lakes site in Staffordshire.
Daisy Lester13 February 2021 09:09
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s rolling coverage of the latest on coronavirus in the UK.
Daisy Lester13 February 2021 09:00
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