ALMOST half of all adults will be fully vaccinated with both doses of their Covid jab by the end of next week.
Official data from Public Health England showed yesterday that 39,068,346 people have had their first shot and 24,892,416 have had the second in Britain’s tremendous vaccine rollout.
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Back in March, Matt Hancock confirmed that half of the UK’s adult population had received a first dose of the Covid vaccine.
But we’re now fast approaching the new milestone – with nearly 50 per cent of the adult population fully vaccinated after receiving two shots, 12 weeks apart.
With 24,892,416 people protected from the virus with their second jab, around two million more need to be dished out to reach the 50 per cent mark.
It comes amid the huge success of the UK’s rollout, which is believed to be responsible for recent low death tolls – despite rising cases of the Indian mutation.
Figures show that just two people given both jabs have died with the Indian variant.
Of 5,599 people who went to A&E with severe symptoms from the strain, 177 had received both doses, while 3,400 had not yet had their first jab.
By May 25, 12 people had died of the variant. Eight were unvaccinated, two had a first dose, and two had both doses.
More than half of all people in their 30s have been inoculated in just over a fortnight since the eligibility opened up for the age group.
Those in their 20s will soon be invited in for the shot.
Despite the promising news that the vaccinations are largely successful against the mutation, there are fears the UK’s ‘freedom day’ may not go ahead as planned on June 21.
This week, Matt Hancock warned “this isn’t over yet” as the PM cast fresh doubt on the final stage of his roadmap out of lockdown.
The Health Secretary told a No10 press conference that Britain was still in a race between “the virus and the vaccine” and it was “too early” to tell if the unlocking could take place as planned.
A “formal assessment” of data will take place next week – as medics grow increasingly gloomy about the new surge.
Currently, the Government hopes to scrap social distancing next month – but face masks and work from home guidance could stay in place beyond June 21.
The Treasury is said to be prioritising the end of the ‘one metre-plus’ rule in a bid to kickstart the economy.
This comes after speculation that NHS staff will be legally required to have the Covid jab under new plans to crack down on transmissions in hospitals.
Tens of thousands of Brits are believed to have caught the virus after being admitted to wards – with almost 9,000 going on to die of the deadly bug.
