UK secure CureVac deal to develop new coronavirus vaccines
Covid vaccination has surged in the UK, with the country now third in the world for total coverage. China and the US currently lead, both with much larger populations, and hopes remain the world will have made significant progress by the end of 2020. Brits will have to wait their turn as officials make their way through the country’s most vulnerable.
When will over-40s get the Covid vaccine?
Health workers and ministers currently follow priority groups set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
The JCVI has compiled 10 groups, ranging from most to least vulnerable, which vaccinators must cover first.
The top nine cover care home residents, staff, health workers and older people.
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Ages range from 80+ in the top two, down to 50 in group nine.
As such, anyone aged 40 and under will have to wait until health workers start vaccinating group 10.
Officials hope to cover everyone aged 70 and up by mid-February, after which they will move to ages 65 to 54.
They likely won’t finish vaccinating this group until spring, around April.
Only once health workers have finished vaccinating this cohort will they move on to the rest of the population.
Currently, this isn’t likely until autumn 2020, and not everyone will have had the required doses by then.
To receive the full benefits of the jab, people require two doses, spaced weeks apart.
The vast majority of people now vaccinated have only received one.
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As of February 5, 19.92 percent of the population has had their first dose.
In comparison, less than one percent (0.95 percent) have also had second.
Sluggish movement in the second round category could prolong the current schedule.
The Government has so far resisted calls to move other groups further up the vaccine schedule.
Labour has called for teachers to rise up the plan, which ministers have firmly rejected.
Speaking to Sophy Ridge last month, International Development secretary Liz Truss said such a move could endanger vulnerable people.
She said: “The issue is that for every person you vaccinate who isn’t in the most vulnerable group, that’s somebody in the most vulnerable group who isn’t getting their vaccine and who is more likely to die in the next few weeks and months.
“I just don’t think that’s right. That’s the decision made by the independent committee that we are going to vaccinate first the over-70s and those in the most vulnerable group, and then the over 50s.”
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