Rapidly falling death rates among the elderly could be a sign that vaccines are working, according to new research.
An Oxford University study has found that since a peak last month the fatality rate in those aged over 80 had dropped by more than 30 per cent.
This is compared to a drop of less than 15 per cent in those aged under 65.
The study, published by the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine claims there is a "tentative'' link between the vaccination programme targeting the elderly and falling death rates.
Scientists said in their study: "Recent weeks have seen falls, particularly concentrated in 80 plus age groups.
"While results are consistent with the impact of disproportionate vaccination of these groups, we can only point tentatively towards such an effect.
"These results do point to a potential impact of vaccination on the case fatality rate [CFR] for 80+ age groups.
"A fall in the CFR would be expected if vaccination reduces the post-infection probability of death to a greater extent than the probability of being determined to be a case."
It comes as the number of coronavirus deaths in the UK increased by 258 in the most recent figures and the number of cases rose by 10,972.
The figures showed a decrease in the death toll and infections compared to last Sunday, February 7, when the UK's official coronavirus death toll rose by 373 with a total of 15,845 new infections.
These figures are the number of deaths of people who had had a positive test result for Covid-19 and died within 28 days of the first positive test.
Boris Johnson yesterday declared that England had met its target to offer a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine to the four most vulnerable groups.
The Prime Minister hailed NHS staff after announcing all over-70s, NHS and care staff, elderly care home residents and the clinically extremely vulnerable had been offered the jab.
More than 15 million people in the UK have now been given a first dose of the vaccine.
