Indian variant: Vaccine rollout strategy discussed by expert
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Tens of millions of UK residents have now received their call to action from the NHS, which is now sending out vaccine bookings. So far, a total of 56,992,075 people have had one or both vaccines, with the number accelerating every day. Health services are approaching rollout in bands by age, and a new cohort can get their jab soon.
Who can get the Covid vaccine?
Health officials and the Government are slowly making their way through the UK’s population.
Initial focus fell on the elderly and chronically sick, and success in these bands has allowed them to move on to younger adults.
Officials asked those aged 38 and 39 to book their first doses on May 12, and arrangements have progressed swiftly since then.
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced 37 and 36-year-olds could book too.
All 37-year-olds can claim their first vaccine from today, May 18.
Anyone in the 36-year-old band can start booking from tomorrow, May 19.
Despite swift progress, Mr Hancock has refused to accelerate the vaccine programme to over-18s.
He told Parliament the Government had enough vaccines to offer when the time comes, however.
Mr Hancock said: “We have procured enough Pfizer to be able to use the Pfizer jab and offer it to children should that be clinically approved here.
“But given that we are at the stage of opening to people aged 37, there is some time to go until we reach 18-year-olds.”
England has seen a steady increase in cases of the Indian B.1.617 variant, with 2,323 detected so far.
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Health workers have identified several hotspots, among them Bolton, which has detected 483 cases.
Nearby Blackburn – which has the UK’s third-highest infection rate – is also reckoning with some variant cases.
Three wards in the Lancashire town have sequenced positive cases of B.1.617 variant.
They include Shear Brow and Corporation Park, Billinge and Beardwood and Bastwell and Daisyfield.
Local officials have expanded their Covid vaccination programme to meet the challenge.
Over-18s in the three wards can now claim a jab, so long as they also meet other criteria.
A council spokesman said vaccines would be available “within current government guidance”, and for over-18s in specific categories.
People aged over 18 can get one if they have an underlying health condition, live with an immunocompromised person, or work in health and social care professions.
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