The UK has recorded its deadliest day since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with 1,564 deaths recorded yesterday. While coronavirus rates are dropping in a number of areas, there is still a long way to go until the vaccine reaches enough people to lift restrictions. Currently, over 80s, those in care homes and healthcare workers are the top priority for vaccination.
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There are currently three vaccinations approved for use in the UK: Pfizer/BioNTech, Oxford/AstraZeneca, and Moderna.
While there is still some way to go, Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted that three million vaccines have now been administered.
He said: “We’re accelerating the Covid vaccine roll-out across the UK.”
The Government is aiming to have the top four priority groups – including care home residents and their carers, frontline health and social care staff and all those over the age of 70 – offered their first dose of the vaccine by mid-February.
Matt Hancock said earlier this week: “It’s taken a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication to make such an incredible start to this ambitious deployment programme.
“Our vaccine deployment plan sets out exactly how we will harness these efforts to expand the programme quickly and safely.
“Our UK Covid-19 vaccines delivery plan maps our route back to normality, but it does not mean we can be complacent and it is mission-critical that everybody abides by the restrictions in the coming weeks.
“The next few months will present a significant opportunity to turn the tide of battle against Covid – I am looking forward to watching these plans bring more reassurance and hope back to people’s lives after a difficult year.”
How many people have been vaccinated in your area?
Data from the National Immunisation Management Service (NIMS) has revealed that 1,036,605 aged 80 or over in England have received a first dose, while 960,699 first jabs were given to those under 80.
The Midlands has come out on top for the area in England with the most coronavirus vaccines administered, having given 387,647 first doses since December 8.
In second place, the north east and Yorkshire have administered jabs to 370,694 people, with the south east (not including London) delivering 348,863 first doses.
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The combination of vaccines and lockdown restrictions now means infection rates are falling in some regions, but rates in the vulnerable over 80’s group has continued to rise.
Despite lowered rates, the number of deaths is unlikely to drop quickly, according to Chief Scientific Advisor Sir Patrick Vallance.
He said this week: “The daily numbers jump around a bit but I think we are in a position now – when you look at the number of infections we’ve had over the past few weeks and how this is likely to continue, so I don’t think they’re going to drop very quickly – that I’m afraid we’re in a period of high death numbers that’s going to carry on for some weeks.
“It’s not going to come down quickly even if the measures that are in place now start to reduce the infection numbers.
“So we’re in for a pretty grim period, I’m afraid.”
