By Caribbean News Global 
LONDON, England – The UK announced Wednesday, February 3, 2021 that more than 10 million people in the UK have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, marking a significant milestone for the largest vaccination programme in British history.
“Figures out today show the NHS vaccinated a total of 10,021,471 million people between 8 December 2020 and 2 February 2021, including 9 in 10 people aged 80 and more than half of those aged 70 and over. This is equivalent to vaccinating the total capacity of 111 Wembley stadiums in just 8 weeks and is an important step towards hitting the Prime Minister’s target of offering vaccines to the top 4 priority groups by the middle of February. These top four groups account for 88 percent of COVID deaths, which is why the vaccines will play such a crucial role in saving lives and reducing the demand on the National Health Service (NHS),” the Department of Health and Social Care said in a press release.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “This terrific achievement is testament to the monumental effort of NHS workers, volunteers and the armed forces who have been working tirelessly in every corner of the UK to deliver the largest vaccination programme in our history. Every jab makes us all a bit safer – I want to thank everyone for playing their part.
“Vaccines are the way out of this pandemic. The unprecedented national effort we have seen right across the United Kingdom means the majority of our most vulnerable people are now inoculated against this awful disease. The UK government has worked rapidly to secure and deliver doses to all of the UK, demonstrating the strength of our union and what we can achieve together.”
Vaccines have been offered to all elderly care home residents and staff in England and Wales, with staff returning to homes where residents may have been unable to get a vaccine due to medical conditions, or because of a local outbreak.
A study published in the Lancet today shows the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine provides a sustained protection of 76% during the 12-week interval between the first and second dose. It is also the first study to show the vaccine may substantially reduce transmission, suggesting those who have already been immunised with this vaccine cannot infect others.
“All vaccines being used in the UK have undergone robust clinical trials and have met the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s strict standards of safety, effectiveness and quality. The vaccination programme continues to expand, with thousands of vaccination centres open – ranging from GP and pharmacy-led services to hospitals and large-scale vaccination centres – to provide easy access to those eligible, regardless of where they live.”
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “The UK’s vaccination programme is in full swing and almost 1 in 6 people across the UK are already protected from a serious illness. The NHS is doing everything it can to protect the most vulnerable and will continue to expand the vaccination programme even further in the coming weeks to save as many lives as possible.”
The public has a vital part to play in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and the government has called on people to:
- Help out: Help those eligible for the vaccine by supporting friends, family and loved ones with their appointments, as well as volunteering to help those in the community
- Join up: Sign up to clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines, as well as treatments
- Stay informed: Keep up to date with accurate and trusted NHS advice and make sure to share the facts with friends and family.
