The majority of people over the age of 50 will be vaccinated within weeks, according to a senior member of the UK’s vaccine committee.
Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said that most over-50s will be vaccinated within the next few weeks.
He told BBC Breakfast : “In primary care, we’re still vaccinating cohort six – all with underlying illness – and some of seven.
“But, throughout the country, we’re going down to cohort nine.
“Most people over the age of 50 will be vaccinated really within the next few weeks – so it is tremendously successful.
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“Those first nine priority groups included 99% of all hospitalisations and deaths, certainly in wave one of the pandemic, so we’re feeling very optimistic.
“We’re seeing a very sharp reduction in the deaths and hospitalisations throughout the country.”
Professor Harnden also urged people to take the vaccine when offered as he looked to reassure the public.
He added: “The EMA, the MHRA, the World Health Organisation and AstraZeneca have all said this vaccine is safe.
“The data that we look at on a weekly basis on JCVI and a daily basis at MHRA are reassuring that there is no link, so we are right in this country to press on.
“We will keep monitoring this and if there are any safety signals that we are concerned about, we would let the public know straight away.
“At the moment, the message is absolutely clear – go and get your vaccine when offered.
“I spent all yesterday in our practice vaccinating with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine – I would not be immunising my own patients unless I felt it was safe.”
