LONDON (Reuters) – More than 20 million people across the UK have already received their first COVID-19 vaccine, data showed on Sunday as the country made more progress with Europe’s fastest vaccination program.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the landmark represented “a great national achievement and he testified to the country’s health, workers, volunteers and armed forces.
“I ask everyone to receive the jab when they are called,” said Johnson. “Each jab makes a difference in our battle against COVID.”
Britain has suffered the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in Europe – currently 122,849 – and the heaviest economic shock among large wealthy countries, according to the main official data measures.
But the pace of implementation of the vaccination has increased the prospect of a gradual lifting of its current blocking restrictions between now and the end of June.
On Sunday, finance minister Rishi Sunak promised to help the economy while the country remains under restrictions.
In a budget report on Wednesday, it is expected to announce more loans in addition to its nearly 300 billion pounds ($ 418 billion) spending on COVID-19 and tax cuts.
Official data show that a total of 20.09 million people in Britain received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 800,000 received a second dose.
Last week, Britain said more than one in three adults received their first vaccination.
Britain also reported 6,035 more cases on Sunday in the last 24 hours, and 144 more deaths in 28 days after a positive test.
The latest figures mean that cases in the last seven days have fallen 21.2% compared to the previous seven-day period, from 15 to 21 February, and deaths have fallen 33.5%.
Written by William Schomberg; Editing by Jane Merriman and Susan Fenton