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Covid: UK orders 60m extra Pfizer doses for booster jabs Covid: UK orders 60m extra Pfizer doses for booster jabs
(32 minutes later)
An extra 60 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine have been ordered by the UK government as it puts together plans for a vaccination booster programme in the autumn.An extra 60 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine have been ordered by the UK government as it puts together plans for a vaccination booster programme in the autumn.
It brings the total number of Pfizer doses ordered by the UK to 100 million.It brings the total number of Pfizer doses ordered by the UK to 100 million.
The expectation is that the most vulnerable groups will be offered another jab before next winter.The expectation is that the most vulnerable groups will be offered another jab before next winter.
Nearly two-thirds of UK adults have received one dose of a Covid vaccine with a quarter having had two.Nearly two-thirds of UK adults have received one dose of a Covid vaccine with a quarter having had two.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told a Downing Street briefing the booster programme would "keep us safe and free here while we get this disease under control across the world".Health Secretary Matt Hancock told a Downing Street briefing the booster programme would "keep us safe and free here while we get this disease under control across the world".
The government said the additional Pfizer jabs will be used alongside other Covid vaccines for the booster programme.The government said the additional Pfizer jabs will be used alongside other Covid vaccines for the booster programme.
It is one of three jabs authorised for use in the UK, alongside the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and one made by the US firm Moderna.It is one of three jabs authorised for use in the UK, alongside the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and one made by the US firm Moderna.
The news comes as new data from Public Health England showed that one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine reduces household transmission of the virus by up to half.The news comes as new data from Public Health England showed that one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine reduces household transmission of the virus by up to half.
Mr Hancock said this was the "first concrete evidence" of how vaccines reduced the transmission of the virus.
A further 29 people have died within 28 days of a positive Covid test in the UK, according to the latest government figures, taking the total by that measure to 127,480.
There have also been 2,166 lab-confirmed cases reported.
These extra supplies are not about speeding up rollout now - they are an insurance policy ahead of next winter to ensure the UK has enough supplies to offer people a booster jab.These extra supplies are not about speeding up rollout now - they are an insurance policy ahead of next winter to ensure the UK has enough supplies to offer people a booster jab.
But there is still much to be resolved about such a programme.But there is still much to be resolved about such a programme.
Who will get it, whether it will be given at the same time as the flu jab and how many doses will be needed has still to be decided.Who will get it, whether it will be given at the same time as the flu jab and how many doses will be needed has still to be decided.
But perhaps the biggest question of all is whether the current vaccines will need to be tweaked to tackle the new variants.But perhaps the biggest question of all is whether the current vaccines will need to be tweaked to tackle the new variants.
These extra Pfizer doses will be the same as the current jab that is being rolled out.These extra Pfizer doses will be the same as the current jab that is being rolled out.
But the deal done for one of the other vaccines on order - CureVac - is for vaccine doses that can be specifically targeted at the variants.But the deal done for one of the other vaccines on order - CureVac - is for vaccine doses that can be specifically targeted at the variants.
The current thinking is that vaccines that are being used at the moment will offer good enough protection, certainly for adults considered not at high risk from Covid.The current thinking is that vaccines that are being used at the moment will offer good enough protection, certainly for adults considered not at high risk from Covid.
Mr Hancock said the vaccination programme was "bringing back our freedom", but warned the biggest risk to that progress was the "risk posed by a new variant".
He said the UK had been working on plans for a booster programme for more than a year.
Overall, the UK has secured access to 517 million doses of eight different vaccines.
Including first and second doses, more than 47.5 million vaccinations have been given since the start of December.
The overwhelming majority are Pfizer or AstraZeneca, as the Moderna jab has only recently begun to be used.
The UK regulator is currently assessing both the Janssen and Novavax vaccines, which have gone through successful clinical trials. Trials are ongoing for the Valneva, GSK and Sanofi and CureVac jabs.
Mr Hancock said the "harrowing pictures" of the coronavirus situation in India were "a stark reminder that this isn't over yet" but said the UK was sending packages of support, in the form of ventilators and oxygen concentrators.
Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, told the briefing the UK was close to the "bottom level" of coronavirus.
"We are really in very low levels that are comparable to where we were in September last year," he said.
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