All adults in UK on track to have both Covid vaccine jabs by end of August

ALL adults in the UK are on track to receive both jabs of a coronavirus vaccine by August this year, it's reported.

The UK has already given out more than 10 million Covid vaccines with an average of almost 400,000 Brits receiving a jab every day.

Now internal Government projections show that all adults could be vaccinated by the end of summer in an accelerated programme, according to The Times.

It comes after two new mutant strains of the virus were discovered in the UK, prompting experts to start the race in developing booster jabs.

Both new variants — found in Bristol and Liverpool — have the E484K mutation which scientists fear reduces protection provided by current vaccines.

It is the same change that is causing the most concern in the South African and Brazilian variants.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the threat, with government scientists and pharma firms now working on booster doses against these new mutations.

While pharma firms race to create a booster jab, data shows that nearly nine in 10 over-80s and half of over-70s have had their first jab, with the Government on target to offer vaccines to all over-70s by February 15.

Over-65s could start receiving their Covid vaccination invite letters next week as the UK's jab rollout powers on, it's reported.

And the next phase, for those over 50 and young people at greater risk, is due to be completed by spring.

Boris Johnson is yet to set specific targets for later stages but a senior government official told The Times: "There's no secret plan to vaccinate everyone by the end of May but it's fair to say that summer isn't seen internally as wildly overoptimistic.

"The growing use of pharmacies to deliver the jabs will further accelerate the programme.

"As we go down the age groups it's going to be easier for people to travel a bit to get a jab or to do it in their lunch hour and each week that passes the capacity is growing."

But the pace of the roll out depends on supplies being delivered on time and in full.

It comes as new research found the AstraZeneca Covid jab slashes transmission raising hopes of lockdown easing by Easter.

Scientists at Oxford University have revealed Britain's jabs rollout could have already begun to stop the virus spreading.

It comes as 9,646,715 Brits have already had their first dose of a Covid vaccine in the ambitious roll out.

Researchers published their latest findings in Preprints with The Lancet, on Tuesday.

The experts also revealed just one jab gives 76 per cent protection for three months.

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