All over-50s now able to get Covid jab after surge in supply of vaccines

Appointments can be booked through the NHS website without needing to wait for a letter or text invitation
The final priority group were able to book their vaccinations from this morning
PA Wire

All remaining adults aged 50 and over are being invited to book a coronavirus vaccine appointment as the jab rollout moves to another stage.

Those aged between 55-59 in England were invited for their first vaccine last week and the NHS website updated last night, allowing for all other over-50s - the last priority category - to make an appointment.

It comes as business minister Kwasi Kwarteng said almost half of all UK adults could have had the first jab by the end of the week after a surge in supply of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted on Wednesday: “I’m delighted we are now expanding the rollout and inviting those aged 50 and over to book their jab.

“I’m determined no one should miss out on the chance to protect themselves and urge everyone who is eligible to come forward.”

People can book their appointments through the NHS website, rather than waiting for a letter or text invitation.

All over-50s were already able to get vaccinated in Scotland and Northern Ireland, while eligibility in Wales in determined by local health boards.

Mr Hancock previously set a target for all over-50s and people with underlying health conditions to have at least one dose by April 15.

Professor Anthony Harnden, the deputy head of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, told BBC Breakfast on Monday that over-40s will start receiving jabs next month.

He said: “In primary care, we’re still vaccinating cohort six, all with underlying illness, and some of seven. But, throughout the country we’re going down to cohort nine.

“Most people over the age of 50 will be vaccinated really within the next few weeks so it is tremendously successful.

Science and Technology Commitee
Professor Anthony Harnden called the vaccinations programme “tremendously successful”
PA

“Those first nine priority groups included 99 per cent of all hospitalisations and deaths, certainly in wave one of the pandemic, so we’re feeling very optimistic.”

Some 24,839,906 adults had been vaccinated by Monday, an increase of 386,685 compared to the previous day.

The increase is due to a large shipment of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute in India, which has arrived and passed safety checks.

The news comes as 17 European Union countries announced they had stopped giving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine because of some reports it can cause blood clots. But experts have said the jab is safe.

Professor Harden added: “We have given 11 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to date and there’s no demonstrable difference between the blood clots in those that have been vaccinated from those in the general population.”

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) are expected to issue its decision on the continued use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab on Thursday.

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