All eligible adults supplied Covid booster as 90% of over-12s get first dose

All eligible adults in England have been supplied a Covid-19 booster vaccine, the federal government has mentioned – apparently assembly the goal introduced by Boris Johnson earlier this month.

In additional excellent news for the vaccine programme 90 per cent of all adults aged over 12 have now had their first injection following a surge in demand .

The NHS has dramatically stepped up its vaccination drive in the previous couple of weeks in a bid to extend safety in opposition to the omicron wave, which is seeing document case numbers reported throughout the UK.

To hurry up the method the well being service oversaw the opening of 180 new vaccine websites in December, drafted in 750 armed forces personnel, and scrapped the 15-minute post-jab commentary interval in a bid to get extra vaccine into arms.

In his New 12 months message Boris Johnson boasted that the UK’s “place this December the thirty first is incomparably higher than final yr” and mentioned folks had “responded heroically, voluntarily, and in virtually unbelievable numbers to the decision to get vaccinated”.

Talking on to individuals who have been but to get a booster shot, Mr Johnson added: “Have a look at the folks going into hospital now, that might be you.

“Have a look at the intensive care items and the depressing, unnecessary struggling of those that didn’t get their booster, that might be you.” He mentioned folks ought to make it their New 12 months’s decision to get their jabs.

Ministers have nonetheless admitted that many individuals had not been supplied jabs as a result of they must wait 28 days after being contaminated with Covid to get one.

7 in 10 eligible adults have had their booster already, accounting for 28.1 million folks. The federal government says there are “lots of of hundreds” of appointment slots nonetheless obtainable between now and Monday 3 January, with “tens of millions” extra slots obtainable past 3 January.

In an announcement, well being secretary Sajid Javid mentioned the UK’s programme was “world-leading”, including: “I’m delighted to verify we have now hit our goal of providing a COVID-19 booster to all adults by the New 12 months.

“I’m extremely pleased with the work the NHS has executed to speed up the programme and supply my because of the frontline workers, volunteers, Armed Forces and British public who’ve made it potential for us to satisfy this dedication.”

Mr Javid added that it was “by no means too late to return ahead for you vaccine”, stating: “The NHS is prepared for you and has been working across the clock for over a yr to jab greater than 90% of the UK inhabitants, an unbelievable 51.7 million jabs.”