The NHS is being urged to accelerate the coronavirus vaccine roll out and administer second doses sooner as the rapid spread of the Indian variant threatens the roadmap out of lockdown.
Earlier this month, on May 15, the NHS told all staff administering vaccinations the second dose for everyone over 50 should be brought forward, from 12 weeks to eight weeks, but the interval for under 50s would remain at 12 weeks.
But some people in their late 40s and early 50s are now being invited for their second jab after just six weeks, the i reports.
Sources claim the government's plan to lift all restrictions on June 21 i s on a "knife edge”, due to the spread of the Indian variant (B1.617.2), and it is urging vaccination centres with sufficient supply to accelerate the roll out.
It comes after Public Health England (PHE) research, published last week, found both Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are much less effective against B1617.2 after one dose.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recommends the interval between doses for the AstraZenec vaccine should be between four and 12 weeks, while the second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine should be administered after at least three weeks.
PHE states the number of cases of B1617.2 rose by 3,535 over the last week to 6,959 and "hospitalisations are rising" in some of the affected areas. Bolton, Bedford and Blackburn with Darwen are the worst hit.
PHE said in a statement: "Hospital attendances and admissions are predominantly in unvaccinated individuals, highlighting how crucial it is that people in these areas come forward to receive vaccination."
The latest analysis suggests the variant could be as much as 67 per cent more transmissible than the already infectious Kent variant (B.1.1.7), which drove the surge in cases last winter that led to the third national lockdown.
Modelling from Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), carried out earlier this month, suggests there could be up to 50 deaths a day by 21 June, even if the vaccination programme continues at pace.
A SAGE source told i the “most likely outcome is 21 June still holds”, but added: “We need to see individual NHS trust admissions top out clearly and local infection levels fall in places like Bolton.”
The latest government figures show 73.8% of the adult population (38,871,200 people) in the UK has received one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and 46.5% (24,478,052 people) have had two.
