Coronavirus: England and Wales hit target of offering jab to top four priority groups by mid-February, officials say

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

England and Wales have already met their target of offering a coronavirus vaccine to people in the top four priority groups by 15 February, with some people in their 60s already receiving their jab, officials have said.

The government set a UK-wide target of offering a first vaccine dose to the groups considered most at-risk – people aged 70 and over, care home residents and staff, health and care workers and clinically extremely vulnerable patients – by mid-February.

NHS England said on Friday that the top four groups in England had now “been offered the opportunity to be vaccinated”.

The organisation also urged health and care workers who have not accepted a vaccine yet but would like one to contact their employer who is responsible for arranging vaccinations.

Meanwhile, Wales’ first minister Mark Drakeford said some over-50s had already been contacted and offered a vaccination as the top four groups had been reached.

A Welsh government spokesperson said it was still proactively contacting anyone in groups one to four “who may have changed their minds or may have been ill or may have, for some reason, not been able to take up the appointment”.

It came as government data published on Friday showed that 14,012,224 people in the UK had now received a first dose of the vaccine.

During a visit to University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, praised staff for their efforts in reaching millions of people with vaccines.

“It is thanks to fantastic staff like May that the NHS is delivering Europe's fastest and largest Covid vaccination programme” Sir Simon said.

“The whole of the NHS has mobilised to protect the most vulnerable, supported by communities coming together with volunteers, local authorities, the armed forces and local businesses.

“After a year of huge pandemic pressure, it has been a huge and unique team effort that gives us real hope for the future.”

NHS England added on Friday that people aged 65 to 69 could now have a Covid-19 vaccine in England if GPs have supplies.

In a video posted on Twitter, Boris Johnson hailed the vaccination programme and suggested the UK would meet its overall target.

“As I speak we've vaccinated about 14 million people now across the whole of the UK - that's the first jab for 14 million people,” the prime minister said.

“It looks like we are on target, we very much hope to reach the JCVI, the most vulnerable groups one to four, by the 15th.”

He added: “There are still a million or more who have not yet come forward to get your vaccinations in this group. Please do so.”

In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon said she expected many in the 65-69 age group to have had their first jab by the middle of February.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Department of Health said it would be offering everyone over 65 a vaccine by the end of February as it works its way through priority groups four and five.

However, The Independent has learnt that some vulnerable housebound people in their 80s and 90s have not been contacted for inoculation.

Additional reporting by PA