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The UK’s decision not to prioritize key workers such as teachers or police for a Covid coup is ‘the moral thing to do’ and ‘will save the most lives’, the secretary told health.
Matt Hancock confirmed that the second phase of the vaccine rollout will follow expert advice to focus on age groups.
More than one in three adults in the UK have now had their first stroke.
One of England’s top doctors said death rates from Covid were lower for teachers than for several other professions.
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said ONS data on occupations with the highest Covid death rates begins with managers or owners of restaurants and catering establishments, followed by workers working metal and machinery, food, beverage and tobacco processing operators, chefs, and taxi and cab drivers.
Speaking at a coronavirus press conference in Downing Street, England’s deputy chief medical officer also said the death rates for men in each of these groups were over 100 deaths per 100,000, against 18.4 deaths per 100,000 male teachers.
“When we enter phase two of the immunization campaigns… being in the queue is more important than where you are,” said Prof Van-Tam, adding: “Rest assured, the queue is The wait is going very fast and you will arrive at the head of the queue because it is moving fast. “
The government aims to give a boost to all over 50s and those belonging to specific risk groups by April 15, in what is known as the first phase of the Covid vaccine rollout in the UK. United.
He has committed to completing phase two – where all other adults are offered their first dose – by July 31.
The decision on the order to donate the income from the phase two vaccines after experts advised the government that occupancy-based priority would be “more complex” and could slow down the program.
The four UK countries will follow the approach recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI).
Mr Hancock said: ‘Fortunately, teachers are no more likely to catch Covid than any other member of the population who goes to work, and therefore try to find a program that prioritizes a professional group over a another would have been complicated to set up. up and wouldn’t have done what we asked JCVI to do … which is to make sure we minimize the people who die.
Unions representing teachers and the police criticized the decision.
Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the teachers ‘union NASUWT, said the government “is not taking all possible measures” to ensure that schools remain open “without the risk of further closures or further disruption detrimental to teachers’ education. children ”.
John Apter of the Police Federation said there was “palpable anger” on the part of officers, adding: “What is expected of the police puts them at risk. This puts them at risk of transmitting this virus. “
A statement from Wales’ top gendarmes said: “Now that the most vulnerable have been vaccinated, we should seek to vaccinate those who risk their own safety and health.”
Why focus on age and not on profession?
The next phase of the immunization program for those under 50 is a matter of speed.
The faster they can be vaccinated, the more lives Covid-19 can save, reducing pressure on hospitals and making it more likely that a roadmap will be put in place outside of lockdown.
The government expert committee on vaccines says that means people should be vaccinated based on their age, not their job.
It would be more complicated and time consuming to invite all the teachers or police officers for their first dose than to make an offer to all those in their forties, for example.
Research by the Bureau of National Statistics suggests that a number of occupations have above-average death rates, including restaurateurs, taxi drivers, metal workers and salespeople – which group would therefore be prioritized first and how would they be identified?
The bottom line is that rapid and effective rollout to all adults, by age group, is the best way to meet the goal of giving all adults a first dose by the end of July. .
More than 19.1 million people in the UK have received their first vaccine to date, with 485,720 first doses given in the latest daily figure.
At least 95% of people aged 70 or over in Scotland and all parts of England have received their first dose of the vaccine, with the exception of London which has a slightly lower rate. Wales is also slightly behind.
Age-related equivalent data for Northern Ireland is not yet available, but the NI Department of Health has said all staff and residents of care facilities have now been offered a first and a second dose of the vaccine.
Professor Van-Tam urged people to continue to follow lockdown rules after receiving a hit from Covid.
He said there were “some signs of concern” that some people who had the hangover were “loosening” their adherence to restrictions on socialization.
“It’s a bit like being 3-0 in a [football] game and thinking ‘well, we can’t lose this now’. But how many times have we seen the other side take 4-3? Don’t ruin this now, it’s too early to relax, ”he said.
The health secretary also urged people to continue to observe the stay-at-home rules, saying, “We’re almost there – let’s not mess it up.”
Mr Hancock pointed to a series of data which he said showed the pandemic “is not over yet,” including one in five local authority regions that saw an increase in cases last week.
Covid infections continue to fall thanks to strict lockdowns in place across the UK.
Another 345 people have died in the UK within 28 days of testing positive for the coronavirus, according to daily figures from Friday, along with 8,523 new confirmed cases of the virus.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Theresa May, 64, received her first dose of the vaccine.
She said in a tweet that the jab was “effective and painless”.
I just got my first hit with Covid-19. It is safe, effective and painless.
When it’s your turn, please #TakeTheVaccine. It is only by protecting each other that we can beat this virus.
Thank you to all the brilliant researchers, volunteers, NHS and military for their truly heroic efforts. pic.twitter.com/I74lKRPVlB
– Theresa May (@theresa_may) February 26, 2021
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