Science

20 million Britons have had first dose of coronavirus vaccine | Vaccines and immunisation


More than 20 million Britons have received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, the UK government has said.

In a video uploaded to his Twitter profile, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, said it was a “magnificent achievement for the country”.

He added: “I’m absolutely delighted that over 20 million people have now been vaccinated across the UK – it’s absolutely fantastic.

“I want to thank every single person who’s come forward to get the jab because we know with increasing confidence that the jab protects you, it protects your community and it also is the route out of this for all of us.”

Quick Guide

Vaccines: how effective is each one and how many has the UK ordered?

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Pfizer/BioNTech

Country US/Germany

Efficacy 95% a week after the second shot. Pfizer says it is only 52% after the first dose but the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) says this may rise to 90% after 21 days.

The UK has ordered 40m doses.

Doses Clinical trials involved two doses 21 days apart. The UK is stretching this to 12 weeks.

Oxford/AstraZeneca

Country UK

Efficacy 70.4% 14 days after receiving the second dose. May have up to 90% efficacy when given as a half dose followed by a full dose. No severe disease or hospitalisations in anyone who received the vaccine. There have been concerns it is less effective against the South African variant of the coronavirus.

The UK has ordered 100m doses.

Doses Two, four to 12 weeks apart

Moderna

Country US

Efficacy Phase 3 trial results suggest 94.1%.

The UK has ordered 17m doses, to be delivered in March or April

Doses Two, 28 days apart

Novavax

Country US

Efficacy Phase 3 trials suggest 89.3%.

60m doses ordered by the UK, with distribution expected principally in the second half of the year

Doses Two

Janssen (part of Johnson & Johnson)

Country US

Efficacy 72% in preventing mild to moderate cases in US trials but 66% efficacy observed in international trials. 85% efficacy against severe illness, and 100% protection against hospitalisation and death.

30m doses ordered by the UK

Doses: One, making it unique among Covid vaccines with phase 3 results so far

Photograph: Stéphane Mahé/X02520

The vaccines minister, Nadhim Zahawi, tweeted: “Bingo! One score over 20,000,000 people have had the vaccination (1st dose). What an achievement for February 2021. What a team! Proud to be with you on this journey.”

Government data shows that of the 20.5m jabs given in the UK up to 27 February, only 768,810 (approximately 4%) represented second doses.

It comes as nearly 2 million people aged 60 to 63 in England are being invited to book a coronavirus jab, with their letters due to start arriving on Monday. NHS England said the letters would explain how people could make an appointment through the national booking service.

The letters have been sent out after more than three in four people aged 65 to 70 took up the offer of a vaccination, it added.

A further 149 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 83,123, NHS England said on Sunday.

Patients were aged between 23 and 103 and all except six, aged between 34 and 89, had known underlying health conditions. The deaths took place between 8 January and 27 February.



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