- Move allows the NHS to further accelerate vaccinations
of people most at risk
- Priority remains to vaccinate top 2 cohorts first,
while over 3.8 million people have received their first
vaccine dose in the UK
Millions of people aged 70 and over and those clinically
extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 will be invited to get
their vaccinations from today (Monday 18 January) as the
NHS begins roll out of the vaccines to the next 2 priority
groups.
The NHS has so far been working to vaccinate the first 2
priority cohorts recommended by the Joint Committee on
Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which are care home
residents and staff, and those aged 80 and over and
frontline health and care staff.
Vaccinating the first 2 groups will remain the priority,
but vaccination sites which have enough supply and capacity
for vaccinating further people are allowed to offer
vaccinations to the next 2 cohorts – those aged 70 and over
and clinically extremely vulnerable people.
This will allow areas that have already vaccinated the
majority of care home residents, frontline health and care
staff and people aged 80 and over to keep up the momentum
and start vaccinating further at-risk people, helping the
NHS to reach the Prime Minister’s commitment of offering
vaccinations to the first 4 priority groups by the middle
of February.
Prime Minister said:
Today is a significant milestone in our vaccination
programme as we open it up to millions more people who
are most at risk from COVID-19.
We are now delivering the vaccine at a rate of 140 jabs a
minute and I want to thank everyone involved in this
national effort.
We have a long way to go and there will doubtless be
challenges ahead – but by working together we are making
huge progress in our fight against this virus.
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
Now that more than half of all over-80s have had their
jab, we can begin vaccinating the next most vulnerable
groups. Where an area has already reached the vast
majority of groups 1 to 2, they can now start opening up
the programme to groups 3 to 4.
We are working day and night to make sure everyone who is
70 and over, our health and social care workers and the
clinically extremely vulnerable are offered the vaccine
by the middle of February and our NHS heroes are making
huge strides in making this happen.
This measure does not mean our focus on getting care
homes, healthcare staff and those aged 80 and over
vaccinated is wavering – it will remain our utmost
priority over the coming weeks to reach the rest of these
groups.
The guidance from the government and the NHS to local
vaccination services remains that they should still offer
the vaccine to each of the priority groups in
the order set out by the JCVI.
