Millions More Coronavirus Jabs to Reach Vaccination Centres Amid Accelerated Vaccination Programme

Strategic Insights -

A significant shift in vaccination strategy is underway, with two million doses of the Pfizer jab to be distributed this week and next to further accelerate the inoculation programme. Boris Johnson has pledged to use every aspect of government to protect the elderly and vulnerable, as the UK sees a significant increase in new cases and deaths. Despite this, health chiefs remain confident that the vaccination programme will speed up to reach millions more people within days.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 5 million finished doses of vaccine are awaiting distribution or final safety checks in the UK.
  • Two million doses of the Pfizer jab will be distributed this week and next as part of the accelerated vaccination programme.
  • 1.1 million people in England, or one in 50, are infected with the virus, according to Office for National Statistics figures.
  • 1.3 million people in the UK have received a first dose of a vaccine, including 23% of the over-80s in England.
  • 7 mass vaccination centres will open next week in places such as sports stadiums and exhibition centres.
  • Ministers are confident they are on track to increase inoculations from hundreds of thousands a week to millions.
  • The NHS could administer more doses if they were given more vaccine supplies.
  • Regulators promise to speed up approval for the Oxford vaccine, with 3.5 million doses awaiting approval.

Statistics:

  • 60,916 new cases of the virus were reported, a 44% increase on the seven-day average.
  • 830 deaths were reported, up 45% in seven days.
  • 1.1 million people in England, or one in 50, are infected with the virus.
  • 1.3 million people in the UK have received a first dose of a vaccine.
  • 650,000 people over the age of 80 in the UK have received a vaccine.
  • 5 million finished doses of vaccine are awaiting distribution or final safety checks in the UK.

Sources:

  • The Times, Boris Johnson announces accelerated vaccination programme
  • The Daily Telegraph, NHS and industry point fingers over slow vaccination pace
  • Office for National Statistics, Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the UK: an overview of the latest data
  • Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Press release on the approval of the Oxford vaccine
  • Astrazeneca, Press release on the production and delivery of the Oxford vaccine