Scores of charities have written an open letter to encourage people with underlying health conditions to come forward for a coronavirus vaccine.
Cancer Research UK, Mencap and the Terrence Higgins Trust are among 18 signatories to the letter aimed at people in vaccine cohort six.
The group includes carers as well as people with a range of underlying health conditions that put them at greater risk from coronavirus.
They include chronic respiratory, heart, kidney and liver disease and neurological conditions, immunosuppression, asplenia, diabetes, morbid obesity and severe mental illness.
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People with sickle cell disease, lupus and those on a GP learning disability register, as well as people who have vascular disease or have had a stroke are also included in group six.
The head of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Professor Sir Ian Diamond said he has “no doubt” there will be further waves of Covid-19 infections. Sir Ian acknowledged on Sunday the impact of the “wonderful” vaccine rollout. However, he warned: “we need to recognise that this is a virus that isn’t going to go away.” In Ireland the deputy chief medical officer has said the rollout of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine should be suspended.