MILLIONS more Brits can get their Covid jabs this week – with people aged 34 and 35 able to book from today.
Texts inviting people to book a vaccination will be sent out today and tomorrow, with younger folk in their thirties invited within days.
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National NHS Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis said: “The success of the NHS Covid-19 Vaccination programme, the biggest in history, is not by accident but down to careful planning and precision by NHS staff who have now delivered 48.5 million doses across England in less than six months.
“Getting the vaccine is the single most important step we can take to protect ourselves, our families and our communities against Covid 19, so when you’re called forward, book your appointment and join the tens of millions who have already been jabbed.”
Matt Hancock said: “Our vaccination programme – the fastest and most successful in NHS history – moves forward at pace with 34 and 35 year olds now being invited for the jab.
"This is incredible news and means we remain on track to hit our target of offering a vaccine to all adults by the end of July.
“We have one of the highest uptake rates in the world but we’ll continue to do everything we can to make sure no one is left behind. Please come forward for the jab once you get the offer – it could save your life and protect your loved ones.”
It comes amid fears the Indian variant is spreading across the country as hotspots spring up.
It comes as:
- Fury as ‘red list’ passengers forced to mix with green listers as airport closures spark ‘super-spreader’ mixing
- Indian variant cases ‘concentrated in school age kids and young adults’ who haven’t been jabbed
- Flights from India STILL landing in UK with 1,000 passengers arriving today and 110 planes since country put on red list
- Sewage could be used to see if YOUR area will be plunged into local lockdown amid Indian variant
- Brits warned to ‘ration’ hugs amid Indian variant spread fears
The B.1617.2 variant is now believed to be the dominant strain across 23 areas in the UK.
Boris Johnson said earlier today the vaccines currently rolled out in the UK are "effective against all variants" – including the Indian mutation.
He said: "We have looked at the data again this morning, we have increasing confidence vaccines are effective against all variants including Indian."
The PM added that new variants is one of the issues the UK must face when continuing to ease restrictions.
So far in the UK over 36.8 million Brits have had a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine with 20.5 million having had a second.
The PM told the House of Commons 70 per cent of the country has now had a first jab.
Earlier this week jabs were rolled out younger Brits, with 36-year-olds able to sign up for their shot yesterday.
Three vaccines are being rolled out, the Oxford/AstraZenenca, the Pfizer/BioNTech and the Moderna.
Vaccine uptake has been high across the country but Health Secretary Matt Hancock this week suggested people in hospital with the Indian variant, in hotspot areas such as Blackburn and Bolton, had not taken the jab even though they were eligible.
Cases are the highest in Bolton – where the Indian strain is now the dominant strain and Mr Johnson thanked residents in the area for coming forward to have their jabs.
Data earlier this week revealed that the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab is is 97 per cent effective against India strain.
The spread of the Indian variant has cast doubts on the next stage of Mr Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown.
On Monday, pubs and restaurants were allowed to serve people inside and overnight stays are even permitted.
Travel restrictions are in place across many foreign destinations but Brits have still been able to jet off to places such as Portugal – which is on the green list which means you don't have to quarantine on return if you have a negative test.
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