UK passes Covid vaccinations milestone as number of jabs passes total number of infections

By Robert Cumber
Published 18th Jan 2021, 13:19 BST
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A major milestone has been passed in the Covid vaccination programme.

More people across the UK have now received their first dose of vaccine than have tested positive for coronavirus since the pandemic began, according to a leading health expert.

Jim McManus, who is vice-president of the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) UK, said Government data showed 3.35 million people had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the UK since the first case was recorded here last year, with 3.55 million having had their first dose of vaccine.

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More people in the UK have now been vaccinated against Covid than have been infected by the virus since the pandemic began (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)More people in the UK have now been vaccinated against Covid than have been infected by the virus since the pandemic began (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
More people in the UK have now been vaccinated against Covid than have been infected by the virus since the pandemic began (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

“Cumulative first doses of vaccine now outnumber cases. A sign of hope. Not a magic bullet. But a welcome sign of hope,” he tweeted yesterday.

The Government is aiming to ensure the 14 million most vulnerable people have received at least one dose by the middle of February, as the huge programme continues to be stepped up.

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Senior government figures have reportedly said every adult could have been vaccinated by the end of June.

Related topics:Jim McManusGovernmentEngland