(MENAFN - The Conversation) Back in early January, Prime Minister Boris Johnson predicted that with a fair wind in our sails , the UK would be able to offer a first COVID-19 vaccine dose to its first four priority groups by mid-February.
The winds have evidently been good. All frontline health workers, care home staff and residents, extremely clinically vulnerable people and over-70s – some 15 million people – were offered a first dose before the middle of the month arrived. The question is what happens next.
The UK government s remaining priority groups cover everyone aged 50-70 and all other clinically vulnerable people. However, the government has shown that it s willing to be somewhat flexible with prioritisation, having this week added 1.7 million people to the clinically vulnerable list. Half of those added have yet to receive a first dose, so have been moved up the queue.
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Sputnik International
16 February 2021 After those most at risk of dying or becoming seriously ill from Covid-19 have been vaccinated, there are differing views on which groups should be prioritised next, say Dr Vageesh Jain (UCL Institute for Global Health) and Professor Paula Lorgelly (UCL Epidemiology & Health).
The UK has met its target of offering a first Covid-19 vaccine dose to its top four priority groups by mid-February. All people over 70, frontline health and care staff, care home residents and extremely clinically vulnerable people have been offered a vaccine, with more than 15 million people having now taken a first dose.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI) strategy has prioritised giving vaccines to those most likely to die from Covid-19 – predominantly elderly people. It reflects the stance taken by many countries and by the World Health Organization (WHO), and has been widely supported so far.