Over 20 million UK adults now fully vaccinated with both Covid-19 jabs

16 May 2021, 16:03 | Updated: 16 May 2021, 17:03

20 million UK adults have now received both Covid-19 vaccination jabs, as a raft of lockdown measures are set to be lifted tomorrow
20 million UK adults have now received both Covid-19 vaccination jabs, as a raft of lockdown measures are set to be lifted tomorrow. Picture: PA

By Kate Buck

20 million UK adults have now received both Covid-19 vaccination jabs, as a raft of lockdown measures are set to be lifted tomorrow.

Latest figures show 36,573,354 first doses have been given, and 20,103,658 second doses.

In Wales it was announced today the number of people who have had at least one dose passed two million.

The latest figures show that 2,019,160 people had received their first dose while 915,674 people have had their second jab.

Read more: Push to deliver 'a million jabs a day' to drive down India Covid-19 variant

Explained: All you need to know about England's Covid rules from Monday

England, Scotland and Wales will all be relaxing a raft of Covid-19 restrictions

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said: "This is a fantastic achievement in such a short space of time. I'm incredibly proud and grateful to the thousands of people - NHS staff, military personnel and volunteers - who have worked so hard across the country to reach this milestone.

Vaccinations will protect against future variants

"Vaccination is making a real difference to the course of this pandemic. Every dose delivered is a small victory against this awful virus."

It was reported earlier today that the government hopes to increase Britain's vaccine rollout to a million jabs a day in an attempt to beat the increasing prevalence of the Indian Covid-19 variant.

Experts have urged people to take a cautious approach to social interaction ahead of the major easing of coronavirus restrictions tomorrow.

Ministers are pushing ahead with the changes with despite concerns over the Indian variant of Covid-19.

Ministers have told MPs they expect to increase daily doses from 500,000 to 800,000 within a fortnight, by drawing on a stockpile of 3.2 million doses, according to the Telegraph.

Steve Reed's scathing criticism of government housing policy

On Sunday the deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation told LBC vaccines will "definitely prevent severe disease" even as new variants emerge.

Professor Anthony Harnden told Swarbrick on Sunday that the current vaccines "are all very good" at preventing hospitalisations and deaths, adding: "There is no reason to suspect that these vaccines that we are using won't be equally effective in terms of severe disease, against the variant that originated in India."

SAGE scientists have concluded with "confidence" that the Indian variant more transmissible than the Kent variant that is currently dominant in the UK, however Prof Harnden told LBC the NHS will still be protected, "provided you get people vaccinated".

"That is the key and there are still lots of people in risk groups which haven't been vaccinated yet and that is why we are really pushing ahead," the Oxford vaccine expert explained.

Read more: Over 50s to get fast-track second jab as England's unlocking continues

More to follow....

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Zelensky believes Trump will help to resolve the war with Russia

Ukraine-Russia war will 'end sooner' once Trump becomes president, Zelenskyy says

Jon Kenny passed away aged 66

Tributes pour in as Father Ted star Jon Kenny dies aged 66

Indian firefighters battle a blaze - FILE

Ten newborn babies die as fire erupts in Indian neonatal ward

Some Porsche 718 models are reportedly affected by the fault.

Porsche recalls nearly 1,000 cars amid risk of 'wheels falling off'

RMT Union said they will strike in a dispute over working practices

Rail infrastructure workers set to stage 24-hour strike on Saturday over working practices dispute

Teachers have been left to wash students' uniforms amid 'hygiene poverty' crisis

Teachers forced to wash school students' uniform and install washing machines in schools due to 'hygiene poverty'

Farmers descended on Labour's Welsh conference to protest a rise in inheritance tax.

Farmers descend on Welsh Labour conference to protest Keir Starmer appearance as PM defends budget decisions

Unhealthy food is increasing pressure on the NHS, according to a new report

UK's 'staggering' addiction to 'junk' food 'costs £268bn a year' as pressure mounts on the NHS

Barristers for Mrs Rooney and Mrs Vardy have returned to the High Court

'She always wanted my life': Rebekah Vardy slams Coleen Rooney ahead of I'm A Celeb launch

Russia launched a wave of missiles strikes at Ukraine overnight.

Russia launches wave of drone strikes at Ukraine as Zelenskyy says Scholz-Putin call opened 'Pandora's box'

Trump 2024 National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

Donald Trump names Karoline Leavitt as youngest-ever White House press secretary

Jake Paul beat retired pro Mike Tyson in their fight on Friday.

YouTuber Jake Paul defeats 58-year-old former boxing champ Mike Tyson in Texas clash

Trump's aide Stephen Moore has said the UK should align itself with the US on trade rather than pursuing closer ties with the “socialist model” of the EU

Trump aide urges UK to embrace free market over 'socialist' EU - despite banking boss's call to 'rebuild relations'

The cow was airlifted out of a swimming pool

Udder chaos as pregnant cow lifted to safety by firefighters after falling into swimming pool

All Main Candidates For PM Address CBI Conference

Justin Welby's son breaks silence on former Archbishop of Canterbury's resignation following damning review into abuse

Malcolm X Speaking at Rally

Malcolm X's family files $100m wrongful death lawsuit against CIA, FBI and NYPD over assassination of civil rights icon