UK target hit – more than 15m people have now had at least one vaccine dose

The UK government has reached its mid-February target of offering at least one dose of vaccine to the first four priority groups of people in the UK.

More than 15m people have now had a jab, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said today.

Mr Zahawi said: “15,000,000! Amazing team. We will not rest till we offer the vaccine to the whole of phase1 the 1-9 categories of the most vulnerable & all over 50s by end April and then all adults.”

Boris Johnson said: “Today we have reached a significant milestone in the United Kingdom’s national vaccination programme.”

“This country has achieved an extraordinary feat – administering a total of 15 million jabs into the arms of some of the most vulnerable people in the country.”

On Friday the Welsh Government announced that it had reached its first milestone by offering all those over 80, care home residents and staff, healthcare workers, those who have been asked to shield and over 70s, a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

Arrangements are in place to make sure no one is left behind – if someone missed an appointment because they were ill or maybe they changed their mind about having the vaccine, a new appointment will be made for them.

“The NHS has confirmed everyone in the first four groups has been contacted to be offered a vaccination appointment.” Health minister Vaughan Gething said in a statement.

Wales’ first minister Mark Drakeford said earlier today, “I think all credit is due to those frontline workers in our health service, their partners in the armed forces all of the authorities the volunteers.”

“It’s the efforts that they have made in every part of Wales that allowed us to get to the first target by the end of Friday and mopping up the small numbers of people who may have missed out the first time they were invited for a vaccination over this weekend.”

Mr Drakeford later tweeted: “Our next target is to offer vaccination to everyone over 50 and all those at risk by the Spring. The Health Minister will give more detail in tomorrow’s (Monday) press conference.”

The booking number for those in the first four eligible groups who have yet to be vaccinated – but want an appointment – in North Wales is 03000 840004.