Friday, 8 January 2021

UK vaccinations reach 1.5 million

Vaccine rollout

333,224 UK residents received a first vaccination dose over the most recently published weekly figures, up from 312,494 in the preceding week, taking the total up to 1,296,432 by January 3. 

As of today the figure has increased to 1½ million doses administered, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson at today's presser.

At this pace it would take a long time to vaccinate a population of 68 million.

Of course, these figures precede the rollout of the Oxford-AZ vaccine from January 4, with at least 2 million doses per week pledged to be available administered from mid-January. 

GP sites also opened their doors across Britain from today for vaccination, and by the end of the week there will be over 1,000 GP sites, 223 hospitals, 7 vaccination centres, and pharmacies delivering vaccines. 


According to the ONS, more than three-quarters (76.4 per cent) of deaths involving COVID-19 were in people aged 75 years and over.


Vaccinating just once all of the over 75s, residents in care homes and aged care workers, and healthcare workers, will likely require about 8½ million doses.


PM Johnson has set an upwardly revised target of vaccinating 12 million by February 15, to cover all vulnerable groups and everyone aged over 70.  

This underscores the race against time, since seasonality appears to be a key fact and the warmer spring period doesn't kick in until April.

Amazing Israel has managed to vaccinate 65 per cent of the its population over 60. 

A terrific job!