May 4, 2021
The UK’s Covid-19 vaccination program reached a milestone yesterday (May 3): More than 50 million vaccine doses have been distributed, and 29% of the adult population have received both shots.
Adding to the good news, a recent study estimated that across the different parts of the UK, anywhere between 61% and 68.3% of adults had antibodies against the coronavirus in early April. And today (May 4), only four people died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, down from a recent high of 1,359 on Jan. 19.
As the weather improves and lockdown rules gradually relax across the UK, it’s easy to feel optimistic. Some have even started asking whether the UK may be approaching herd immunity. But experts warn that’s not the case. And they worry that a focus on herd immunity could push the UK to let down its guard too much, and too soon.