Covid vaccine roll out set to be expanded to include over 70s and the clinically extremely vulnerable

People aged 70 and over and the clinically extremely vulnerable to begin receiving invitations for coronavirus vaccinations Monday, January 18.
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Extending the roll out means that the NHS can further accelerate the vaccination programme and protect more people who are most at risk.

From Monday, January 18, people aged 70 and over, along with those deemed clinically extremely vulnerable will begin receiving invitations for the jab.

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The Department of Health and Social Care have said that the priority currently remains to vaccinate the top two cohorts of the vaccination list first (care home residents, those aged 80 and over, frontline health and care staff) – with 3,857,266 people receiving the first dose up to and including January 16.

The Covid vaccination roll out is set to be extended this week.The Covid vaccination roll out is set to be extended this week.
The Covid vaccination roll out is set to be extended this week.

However, vaccination sites which have enough supply and capacity are now allowed further extend the jab roll out.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Today is a significant milestone in our vaccination programme as we open it up to millions more people who are most at risk from Covid 19.

“We are now delivering the vaccine at a rate of 140 jabs a minute and I want to thank everyone involved in this national effort.

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“We have a long way to go and there will doubtless be challenges ahead – but by working together we are making huge progress in our fight against this virus.”

The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, added: “Now that more than half of all over 80s have had their jab, we can begin vaccinating the next most vulnerable groups. Where an area has already reached the vast majority of groups 1-2, they can now start opening up the programme to groups 3-4.

“We are working day and night to make sure everyone who is 70 and over, our health and social care workers and the clinically extremely vulnerable are offered the vaccine by the middle of February and our NHS heroes are making huge strides in making this happen.

“This measure does not mean our focus on getting care homes, healthcare staff and those aged 80 and over vaccinated is wavering – it will remain our utmost priority over the coming weeks to reach the rest of these groups.”

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