LONDON – England will launch the next phase of its COVID-19 vaccination program on Monday, when it begins offering doses to people 70 and older and those considered clinically extremely vulnerable to the coronavirus.
The vaccination program – the largest to date in Europe – has so far focused on people aged 80 and older and primary health and care workers.
“Today is an important milestone in our vaccination program as we open it up to millions of people most at risk for COVID-19,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday.
“We have a long way to go and there are bound to be challenges – but by working together we are making huge strides in our fight against this virus.”
Health Minister Matt Hancock said more than half of all over-80s have now had a vaccination.
Britain – which has the highest COVID-19 death toll in Europe – hopes that progress in rolling out the vaccines will enable it to ease some of the economically damaging lockdown restrictions in March, Secretary of State Dominic said Raab.
The government wanted all adults to be offered an initial vaccination by September, he said, adding, “If we can do it faster, great. But that’s the roadmap.”
Johnson has set a goal to vaccinate the four most risky categories – which comprise about 14 million people – by mid-February.
The government said the first two groups in its program would remain their priority, but vaccination sites that can accommodate more people will invite members of the next two cohorts to their shots.
Sunday’s announcement related to vaccinations in England, a health department spokesman said. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own health policy competences.
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