I am delighted to tell you that we have met the target to offer a vaccine across the UK to everyone in the top nine priority groups ahead of our 15 April deadline.
Take up of the vaccine among the over 50s has been very high. In every age group, more than eight in ten have had at least one dose – three quarters of over 80s have now received both doses of vaccine. This is a remarkable achievement across the UK, thanks to hard work and teamwork of so many people. Following a successful start last week in Wales, the third vaccine of the seven the UK government has procured – the Moderna vaccine – will now be rollout in England. As of yesterday morning, 32,190,576 people in the UK have received at least one dose.
The evidence shows that over ten thousand lives have already been saved thanks to the vaccine programme. As part of the 4 tests for progressing along the Roadmap, it is because of the success of the vaccination rollout, alongside failing infections and hospitalisations, working with Devolved Authorities, we are able carefully to lift restrictions in all parts of the United Kingdom.
I am now writing to you about the next steps.
Today, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has published its final advice about the next phase of the Covid vaccine deployment. In line with their interim advice, they have recommended an age-based strategy for prioritisation as the best way to further reduce mortality and hospitalisations.
JCVI has advised that rapid vaccine deployment is the most important means to maximise public health benefits against severe outcomes from COVID-19. There is good evidence that the risks of hospitalisation and critical care admissions from COVID-19 increase with age, and that in occupations where the risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 is potentially higher, persons of older age are also those at highest risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. It is for these reasons that the committee has recommended we continue the age-based offer of vaccination. We have therefore now opened up vaccination to all those aged 45 and above.
Throughout the vaccination programme the independent regulator, the MHRA, has published data on the effects – and side effects of the vaccine. They have independently assessed that all three vaccines in use in the UK are safe, effective. The European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organisation have reached the same conclusion.
JCVI has weighed the relative balance of benefits and risks, and advise that the benefits of prompt vaccination with the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine far outweigh the risk of adverse events for individuals 30 years of age and over and those who have underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease. Having considered this data, which has been published, and in order to make the vaccine programme as safe as it possibly can be, the JCVI advises that it is preferable for adults aged < 30 years without underlying health conditions that put them at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease, to be offered an alternative vaccine, if available. We accept this advice in full, and the rollout will put this advice into operation.
Despite the significant progress we are making, there is lower uptake in some parts of the population, particularly certain minority ethnic groups. I am grateful to colleagues across Parliament who have worked across party lines to support and encourage the take-up of the vaccine, and to reassure those who are hesitant. In order to maximise take-up, the JCVI has advised operational flexibility for the vaccine deployment programme to ensure that we can do all we can to increase vaccine coverage, especially among those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19.
I am very proud of the team across the United Kingdom who are delivering the vaccination effort – including the NHS, pharmaceutical companies, civil servants, the armed services, scientists, local authorities, and many dedicated volunteers.
Despite the many challenges to the supply and deployment of vaccines, we have delivered on this crucial public target for our vaccination programme, and we are on track to meet our next goal of offering a first dose of vaccine to all adults by the end of July.
Yours ever,
MATT HANCOCK