Over 70s, clinically 'vulnerable' and all care staff will get COVID jab by mid-February says PM

People over 70, those who are ‘clinically extremely vulnerable' and all care staff will receive the first dose of a COVID vaccine by mid-February, according to Boris Johnson.

Boris Johnson told the nation, England will enter its third national lockdown with people ordered to stay at home until mid-February while he plans to get the most vulnerable 13 million people vaccinated by 15 February.

This is the 13 million target government medical advisers have said will stop 99 per cent of hospitalisations.

The government’s goal is to have two million people vaccinated each week.

PM: 'With a fair wind in our sails'

Speaking in the Downing Street briefing, Boris Johnson said: "By the middle of February, if things go well and with a fair wind in our sails, we expect to have offered the first vaccine dose to everyone in the four top priority groups identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

"That means vaccinating all residents in a care home for older adults and their carers, everyone over 70, all frontline health and social care workers and everyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable.

“If you are clinically extremely vulnerable, we are advising you to begin shielding again and you will shortly receive a letter about what this means for you.”

Lockdown measures are unlikely to be relaxed until around 13 million people aged over 70 or classed as 'extremely clinically vulnerable' have received the vaccine and been given enough time to be protected – about two to three weeks after getting the jab.

On Monday, the UK became the first nation in the world to immunise patients using the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine after receiving 530,000 doses. The government has access to 100 million doses of the vaccine after it was approved for use by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on 30 December.

The first Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccinations are being delivered to hospitals in the first few days, before the vaccine is sent to hundreds of GP-led services and care homes later this week.

Over a million people in the UK have already been vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which was also approved for use in December.

Risk NHS is 'overwhelmed' in 21 days

The MHRA, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and the UK’s chief medical officers (CMOS) for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have agreed to increase the gap between the first and second dose of the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines.

This is an increase from the 21 days (recommended by Pfizer) to 12 weeks to ensure many more people receive their first vaccination more quickly.

Figures for Monday on coronavirus infections reveal 58,784 new cases have been diagnosed in 24 hours - the highest daily total since the start of the pandemic. There were also 407 more deaths.

A joint statement from the UK's CMOs said: “Cases are rising almost everywhere, in much of the country driven by the new more transmissible variant.

“We are not confident that the NHS can handle a further sustained rise in cases and without further action there is a material risk of the NHS in several areas being overwhelmed over the next 21 days.

“It is absolutely critical that people still come forward for emergency care. If you require non-urgent medical attention, please contact your GP or call NHS 111.”