Vaccine phase 2 starts as UK hits 15million target

The Covid-19 vaccine rollout in England has entered its next phase, with the health secretary saying the jab has been offered to everyone in the UK’s top four priority groups.

Hitting the governments targets of 15miilion million vaccines by February 15, so as of the 13th more than 15 million people in the UK have had their first dose.

Those who have received their second vaccine shot has just passed 500,000.

The rollout in England has officially been expanded to those aged 65 and over and younger people in at-risk groups.

But Matt Hancock said there was still “some way to go” before easing lockdown.

The government is aiming to offer a vaccine to the 17 million in groups five to nine by the end of April, something that will be done alongside administering second doses for many in the first four groups.

“There is a huge programme under way rolling out to invite the next group of people to be vaccinated and, at the same time, from next month we have the second jabs of all the people who have come since January to make sure they happen on time, because they have to be within a specific 12-week time period,” the health secretary said.

Who’s on the vaccines priority list:

• 1 – Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
• 2 – All those aged 80 and over. Frontline health and social care workers
• 3 – All those aged 75 and over
• 4 – All those aged 70 and over. Clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
• 5 – All those aged 65 and over
• 6 – All individuals aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
• 7 – All those aged 60 and over
• 8 – All those aged 55 and over
• 9 – All those aged 50 and over