By Caribbean News Global 
LONDON, England – Over 10 million people in the UK have received their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Health services across the UK have now administered a total of 43,084,487 million vaccines between December 8 and 18 April, including 32,932,448 million people with their first dose and 10,152,039 million with their second.
Prime minister Boris Johnson, said: “Vaccines offer us the best possible protection from the virus, so it is fantastic that 10 million people have now received their second dose. This is another remarkable milestone in our vaccination programme, which has already saved thousands of lives. I want to thank the brilliant staff and volunteers involved in the rollout, and urge all those who are called to keep coming forward.”
The milestone means over 19 percent of all UK adults have received both vaccines.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock, said: “This is another terrific milestone, meaning over ten million people who are the most vulnerable to COVID in the UK now have double protection from this awful virus. Second doses are crucial to maximising the strength and duration of your protection from COVID-19 and I’m urging everybody eligible to get their jab as soon as possible. This milestone is thanks to the dedication and tireless efforts of our NHS workers, volunteers, civil servants and everybody working on the frontline to save lives and stop this virus in its tracks.”
The government has already hit its target of offering everybody in cohorts 1 to 9 – those aged 50 and over, the clinically vulnerable and health and social care workers – a first dose of the vaccine by 15 April and remains on track to offer a jab to all adults by the end of July.
According to the press release from Department of Health and Social Care: “All vaccines being used in the UK have undergone robust clinical trials and have met the independent medicines and healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s strict standards of safety, effectiveness and quality. Rolling reviews are underway by the MHRA to assess the Janssen and Novavax vaccines. The speed and breadth of the UK vaccination programme means even more people will soon develop strong protection from serious illness from COVID-19 infection, saving countless lives and significantly reducing pressure on the NHS.”
Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi, said: “Vaccines have already saved more than 10,000 lives and they are the best way to protect you and your loved ones from this dreadful disease. We want to send this virus into retreat. No matter who you are, where you live, your race or your religion, I encourage everyone to get both doses when offered and help this country return life to normal.”
Meanwhile, Department of Health and Social Care, said, Monday: “Nine in ten pharmacies across England are now distributing free rapid lateral flow tests for people to collect and use at home.
“Rapid, regular testing is now available to everyone in England and the new ‘Pharmacy Collect’ service provides an additional route to regular testing, making it as easy as possible for people without COVID-19 symptoms to access testing twice a week. The Pharmacy Collect service is available to people aged over 18 without symptoms, who are able to visit a participating local pharmacy and collect a box of sseven rapid tests to use twice a week at home.
“Alongside the rollout of the vaccine, testing will form a crucial part of everyday life as parts of society reopen. Around 1 in 3 people with coronavirus don’t have symptoms, which means they can spread the virus without knowing it. Regular testing continues to play a critical role in stopping the spread of the virus and breaking the chains of transmission.”
