Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told a Downing Street briefing tonight: 'We know the vaccine is safe" and its success explains why deaths in the UK are "falling so fast."
He explained that about nine in 10 people aged around 70 have coronavirus antibodies thanks to the vaccination programme.
He told the Downing Street press conference: “Around 90 per cent of people aged around 70 and above at that point (the start of March) had these antibodies and it has continued to expand further in the two weeks or so since then.”
Mr Hancock said it explains why deaths in the UK are “falling so fast”, down a third in the past week, before discussing a new PHE publication on the impact of the vaccine.
“After a single dose of either vaccine, protection against Covid-19 is around 60 per cent, that’s protection against getting it, protection against hospitalisation is around 80 per cent and protection against death is around 85 per cent,” he said.
If you live with someone who is vaccinated, you have a 30 per cent lower risk of catching Covid-19, he added.
He said: "What really matters is why this is making a difference.
"We have information on the real-world impact the vaccination is having."
The Health Secretary said "we are on track" to deliver in priority groups one to nine by April 15.
And he encouraged all people aged 50 and over to get a vaccine.
He said: "Now is not the time to waver. The vaccine is our way out. Let's stick with it and when you get the call, get the jab."
