Nearly 140,000 people in the UK have received coronavirus vaccine jabs in the first seven days since the roll-out began.
Minister Nadhim Zahawi, who is overseeing the mass inoculation programme, tweeted that there had been a ‘really good start’ with 137,897 doses given out.
Grandmother Margaret Keenan, 90, became the first person to receive the Pfizer Covid-19 jab in the world last week.
Since then, 108,000 people have been given the jab in England, 18,000 in Scotland, 4,000 in Northern Ireland and 7,897 in Wales.
Mr Zahawi tweeted: ‘A really good start to the vaccination program. It’s been 7 days and we have done: England:108,000 Wales: 7,897 Northern Ireland: 4,000. Scotland:18,000 U.K Total 137,897. That number will increase as we have operationalised hundreds of PCN (primary care networks)’.
It came after Government officials refused to be drawn on how many doses of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine are due to arrive in the UK and on what schedule.
It had been hoped that 10 million doses would be in the country by the end of 2020, but this has now dropped to five million doses.
To date, 800,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are known to be in the country, which is enough for 400,000 people as two doses each are required.
Overall, the UK has ordered 40 million doses – enough to vaccinate 20 million people.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said he hopes several million people can be vaccinated before Christmas.
The data was released ahead of a second meeting this morning of the four UK governments to discuss the relaxation of some rules over Christmas.
Boris Johnson is resisting calls to ‘cancel Christmas’, arguing that it is ‘too late’ to go back on the Government’s five-day bubble plan – despite leading medics warning his decision will ‘cost many lives’.
The Prime Minister is expected to urge the public to self-isolate before mixing with other households and to think long and carefully about meeting with elderly or vulnerable relatives.
However, he will reject demands to go back on the four-nation plan as he faces MPs in the Commons today, according to reports.
The Tory leader believes any alternative is likely to be met with resistance from the public, with millions looking forward to seeing their families at the end of the month.
METRO.CO.UK
