A London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) analysis suggests the NHS is unlikely to be overwhelmed by the virus even in the event of a major surge in cases.
Just 67million doses of AZ have been distributed across the continent compared to 440m doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, even though more recent studies suggest the jab provides longer protection.
Another 43,676 cases have been recorded across the UK over the last 24 hours, a rise of 14.1 per cent on the 38,263 confirmed positive cases last Wednesday.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said top-up jabs should be given to over-40s and then over-18s to reduce transmission, hospitalisations and deaths.