UK to start offering COVID-19 vaccine to under 50s

The UK announced on Monday that it had achieved one of the main targets of its COVID-19 vaccination campaign earlier than expected: offer at least one dose of the vaccine to the entire population over 50, to at-risk groups and to health workers by April 15.

This date was reached three days in advance, so that the Boris Johnson administration will start with the next stage, which will reach those under 50, “in the next few days”. “We have taken a very significant step in our program,” said the president in this regard.

Local media reported that the population aged 40 to 50 in England will be the first population to be contacted for the vaccine. This will be formalized once the Joint Vaccination and Immunization Committee releases the new guidelines, which is expected by the end of this week. The governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will then decide whether or not to follow the recommendations.

Over 32 million people (out of 66 million people) have received at least one first dose in the UK. According to the specialized site Our world in data, this figure represents 47.32 percent of the population. In total, nearly 40 million doses were applied, for a total of 58.32 per 100 people (i.e. also including those who have completed the vaccination program).

The inoculation rate, which uses doses from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca laboratories, continues at a steady pace. On April 10, the latest date for which data are available, sufficient doses were applied to cover 0.56 percent of the population..

The objective of reaching the entire adult population by the end of July could be modified by the decision to limit the administration of AstraZeneca to those over 30 years of age as a precaution against the appearance of rare cases of thrombi, although these are very infrequent. .

However, the positive impact of the campaign in the UK is tangible. According to the public health agency, currently 2,862 people are hospitalized due to the disease, a drop of more than 90% from the peak – more than 35,000 people – in mid-January, when the process was just beginning. This Monday, 13 deaths were recorded across the country, while in mid-January there were more than 1,800.

The success of the vaccines has led the UK government to implement the first stage of reopenings announced earlier this year, after months of tight restrictions. On Monday, various businesses deemed non-essential reopened, including bars and restaurants – albeit outdoor spaces only – hairdressers and clothing stores.

They have also opened swimming pools and gymnasiums – although without group lessons – civic centers and libraries and vacation rentals – but not yet hotels – reserved only for the family nucleus. The British, however, will have to wait until May 17 to be able to return to shows and museums and see family and friends inside.

This is the case, warn health authorities, as long as the number of cases does not skyrocket due to the arrival of new variants or non-compliance with the rules.

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