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Covid vaccine: How many people are vaccinated in the UK? Covid vaccine: How many people are vaccinated in the UK?
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More than 50 million people in the UK have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine - part of the biggest inoculation programme the country has ever launched.More than 50 million people in the UK have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine - part of the biggest inoculation programme the country has ever launched.
With almost nine in 10 of those aged 12 or over having had a single jab and eight in 10 having had a second, the country is now running a booster campaign. With nine in 10 of those aged 12 or over having had a single jab and eight in 10 having had a second, the country is now ramping up a booster campaign in an attempt to stop a potential wave of cases driven by the new Omicron variant.
Who can get a vaccine or a booster?Who can get a vaccine or a booster?
The vaccine rollout was launched in winter 2020 and began with those considered most vulnerable before later moving down the adult age groups. The vaccine rollout was launched in winter 2020 and began with those considered most vulnerable before later moving down the adult age groups. All those aged 12 and over are now being offered two doses.
All those aged 12 and over are now being offered a Covid vaccine, while over 40s are being asked to book a third, booster dose. A booster campaign, originally targeted at people over 40 or belonging to a number of other vulnerable groups, has been extended to all over-18s.
Two doses are now also being offered to all 12 to 17-year-olds. The government says every adult will be offered a booster jab by the end of January, in a race against the spread of the Omicron variant.
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The booster campaign is now being ramped up over fears that the new Omicron variant may be more infectious than previous strains of the virus. Ministers say boosters will be prioritised according to age, with the NHS working down the list in five-year bands in a similar way to the original rollout.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that everyone in England who is eligible for a booster dose will be offered the chance to book one before the end of January. The minimum gap between the second jab and booster dose has also been reduced from six to three months, to speed up the process.
He said the boosters would be prioritised according to age, with the NHS working down the list in five-year bands as was done previously.
The minimum gap between the second jab and booster dose has now been changed from six months to three months in all four UK nations.
So far, the UK has approved four vaccines for use: Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca, Moderna and Janssen; three of which require two doses for maximum protection.So far, the UK has approved four vaccines for use: Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca, Moderna and Janssen; three of which require two doses for maximum protection.
All those aged under 40 are being offered an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine due to evidence linking it to rare blood clots.All those aged under 40 are being offered an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine due to evidence linking it to rare blood clots.
The vaccine currently being used for under-18s in the UK is Pfizer-BioNTech, but the Moderna vaccine has also been authorised for use in children.The vaccine currently being used for under-18s in the UK is Pfizer-BioNTech, but the Moderna vaccine has also been authorised for use in children.
Those eligible for boosters will receive one dose of Pfizer or half a dose of Moderna.Those eligible for boosters will receive one dose of Pfizer or half a dose of Moderna.
There is no vaccine currently approved for use in the under-12s.There is no vaccine currently approved for use in the under-12s.
How is the vaccine and booster rollout going?How is the vaccine and booster rollout going?
So far, more than 50 million people have had a first vaccine dose - some 88% of over-12s. More than 46 million - 80% of over-12s - have had both doses. So far, more than 50 million people have had a first vaccine dose - some 89% of over-12s. More than 46 million - 81% of over-12s - have had both doses.
While uptake of first and second doses has dropped off, there has been a steep rise in people having booster shots.While uptake of first and second doses has dropped off, there has been a steep rise in people having booster shots.
More than 18 million of these booster doses have been administered across the UK.More than 18 million of these booster doses have been administered across the UK.
Progress made in the UK so far means the country continues to be among those with the highest vaccination rates globally and is in the top 10 countries with a population of at least one million.Progress made in the UK so far means the country continues to be among those with the highest vaccination rates globally and is in the top 10 countries with a population of at least one million.
Vaccination rates have now levelled off in every age group in England apart from the youngest bands, as the chart below shows.Vaccination rates have now levelled off in every age group in England apart from the youngest bands, as the chart below shows.
The highest rates of vaccination can be seen in the oldest age groups - among the first to be vaccinated.The highest rates of vaccination can be seen in the oldest age groups - among the first to be vaccinated.
The aim of the vaccination programme is to protect as many people as possible from serious illness through developing the UK population's immunity against Covid-19.The aim of the vaccination programme is to protect as many people as possible from serious illness through developing the UK population's immunity against Covid-19.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests more than nine in 10 adults in the UK now have coronavirus antibodies - which is evidence of a past Covid infection or having received at least one dose of a vaccine.Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests more than nine in 10 adults in the UK now have coronavirus antibodies - which is evidence of a past Covid infection or having received at least one dose of a vaccine.
However, this figure does not tell us how many people are protected from infection or how close we are to reaching herd immunity - the point at which everyone is protected, directly or indirectly, as a result of high immunity levels in the population.However, this figure does not tell us how many people are protected from infection or how close we are to reaching herd immunity - the point at which everyone is protected, directly or indirectly, as a result of high immunity levels in the population.
Will a vaccine give us our old lives back?Will a vaccine give us our old lives back?
Covid vaccine: When will you be eligible?Covid vaccine: When will you be eligible?
Is Covid at risk of becoming a disease of the poor?Is Covid at risk of becoming a disease of the poor?
Has the rollout been even across all areas?Has the rollout been even across all areas?
Across the country, there continues to be some variation in the vaccine programme.Across the country, there continues to be some variation in the vaccine programme.
Scotland has vaccinated 91% of those aged 12 and over with at least one dose, while Wales has reached 90%, England 88% and Northern Ireland 85%.Scotland has vaccinated 91% of those aged 12 and over with at least one dose, while Wales has reached 90%, England 88% and Northern Ireland 85%.
Second doses are also being rolled out, with all nations reaching about 80% of over-12s so far.Second doses are also being rolled out, with all nations reaching about 80% of over-12s so far.
Across the English regions, the South West has vaccinated 85% of the same age group with at least one dose, while London has reached 67%.Across the English regions, the South West has vaccinated 85% of the same age group with at least one dose, while London has reached 67%.
There have also been disparities between ethnic groups and poorer and wealthier areas.There have also been disparities between ethnic groups and poorer and wealthier areas.
Analysis of NHS records by the OpenSAFELY group - a collaboration between Oxford University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - shows that black people were the least likely to have received a vaccine.Analysis of NHS records by the OpenSAFELY group - a collaboration between Oxford University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - shows that black people were the least likely to have received a vaccine.
The study was based on more than 20 million patient records in England and covers people not living in care homes. Areas of London are under-represented in the data.The study was based on more than 20 million patient records in England and covers people not living in care homes. Areas of London are under-represented in the data.
In addition, vaccine take-up in poorer areas is lower than in more affluent areas.In addition, vaccine take-up in poorer areas is lower than in more affluent areas.
For example, 88% of those aged 50 and over in the poorest areas had been given a vaccine by 10 November, compared with 96% in the most affluent.For example, 88% of those aged 50 and over in the poorest areas had been given a vaccine by 10 November, compared with 96% in the most affluent.
Where are the vaccines coming from?
The Pfizer-BioNTech jab - the first to be given the green light last December - is being imported from Puurs, Belgium.
A second vaccine, from Oxford University and AstraZeneca, is being made at a number of sites in Britain. Further doses are expected to come from the Serum Institute of India and the Halix plant in the Dutch city of Leiden.
The third, from Moderna, is coming from sites in Switzerland and Spain, via Belgium, while the Janssen vaccine, due to arrive later this year, is produced in the Netherlands by the Belgian firm, owned by Johnson & Johnson.
The UK is also lined up to receive another vaccine if approved for use.
The jab, manufactured by US firm Novavax, will be made in Stockton-on-Tees in north-east England.
Is there enough vaccine?Is there enough vaccine?
The UK had ordered more than 540 million doses of seven of the most promising vaccines, including the four so far approved for use. But the French vaccine maker Valneva says the UK government has scrapped a deal for 100m doses of its vaccine, which is yet to be approved. Currently, the Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca, Moderna and one-shot Janssen vaccines are approved for use throughout the UK.
An extra 35 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were ordered in August, on top of another 60 million ordered earlier in the year, as part of the government's plans for a vaccination booster programme. Others, such as those produced by Novavax and Valneva, have not yet been given the green light.
But it has amended its original order of the Janssen single-dose vaccine from 30 million to 20 million doses, given the "unprecedented scale and pace" of the vaccination programme. The UK had ordered more than 540 million doses of seven of the most promising vaccines, including the four so far approved for use.
Ministers have also announced an eighth deal with biopharmaceutical company CureVac to develop vaccines against future variants. In addition, the government has now signed deals to buy 114 million more doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to use in 2022 and 2023.
It has placed an initial order for 50 million doses to be delivered later this year - if they are required. French vaccine maker Valneva said the UK government had scrapped a deal for 100m doses of its vaccine, which is yet to be approved.
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