ALL adults set to have Covid vaccine by July as Boris Johnson speeds up jab rollout
BORIS Johnson last night vowed to offer every adult in Britain a jab against Covid-19 by the end of July.
The PM is confident he can speed up the vaccination programme to free the country from lockdown sooner than planned.
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He unveiled the target on the eve of announcing his roadmap for lifting the restrictions on our way of life.
NHS chiefs say the jabs programme has been key to the rapid fall in infections, hospital admissions and deaths.
By last night, 17,247,442 had been vaccinated — including two-thirds of the 65 to 69 age group who only received their invitation letters last week — thanks to hard-working NHS staff.
Mr Johnson now plans to speed up jabs for over-50s, with a completion target of April 15.
It means 98 per cent of those most likely to die, or be hospitalised, will be protected by then.
He will stand by his pledge to offer a second dose within 12 weeks of the first.
Some 604,885 had been administered by last night.
He said: “Hitting 15million vaccinations was a significant milestone but there will be no let-up.
"I want to see the roll-out go further and faster in the coming weeks.
“We will now aim to offer a jab to every adult by the end of July, helping us protect the most vulnerable sooner, and take further steps to ease some of the restrictions in place.
"But there should be no doubt the route out of lockdown will be cautious and phased.”
NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said yesterday that the jabs campaign was going “full steam ahead”.
He added: “Across England, nearly a third of adults have now had their first jab.
"Early signs suggest this is contributing to the welcome fall in coronavirus hospitalisations that we’re now seeing.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that “every jab brings hope”.
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