COVID-19: More than 5.5m over 70s and clinically vulnerable to be offered vaccine from today

More than 5.5 million people who are clinically extremely vulnerable and those aged 70 and over will be invited to get their vaccinations from today as the NHS begins the next phase of the vaccine rollout.

These two groups will form the next part of the national vaccine rollout (group three and four). The priority groups were decided on and recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

More than 3.8 million people in the UK, including those over 80, frontline health and care staff and care home residents and staff have already had the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson 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.”

It will also help the UK deliver on the Prime Minister’s promise to have offered vaccinations to the first four priority groups by mid-February.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock 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 one to two, they can now start opening up the programme to groups three to four.

“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.

1. Care home residents and their carers

2. Those 80 and over, and frontline health and social care workers

3. Those 75 and over

4. Those 70 and over, and clinically extremely vulnerable people

5. Those 65 and over

6. People between 16-65 with underlying health conditions which put them at risk of more serious illness from COVID-19

7. Those 60 and over

8. Those 55 and over

9. Those 50 and over

Ten new vaccination centres to open

Ten new vaccination centres are due to open in England on Monday and will add to the seven existing mass vaccination sites across the country.

The new centres will be in:

Bournemouth International Centre on the south coast

Taunton Racecourse in Somerset

Blackburn Cathedral in Lancashire

Salt Hill Activity Centre in Slough, Berkshire

Norwich Food Court in Norfolk

The Lodge in Wickford, Essex

Princess Royal Sports Arena in Lincolnshire

St Helens Rugby Ground in Merseyside

The park-and-ride at Askham Bar in York

Olympic Office Centre in Wembley, north London

The seven hubs already in use are in: Etihad Tennis Centre, Manchester; Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey; Robertson House, Stevenage; Centre for Life, Newcastle; Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol; Millennium Point, Birmingham; ExCel, London.