LONDON (Reuters) – More than 20 million people across the UK have now received their first COVID-19 vaccine outlook, data on Sunday showed how the country has made further progress with the region’s fastest vaccination program Europe.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the milestone represented “a major national achievement and testified to the health, staffing, volunteers and armed forces of the country.
“I urge everyone to get the injection when it is called,” Johnson said. “Every injection makes a difference in our battle against COVID.”
Britain has suffered the highest COVID-19 death toll in Europe – currently at 122,849 – and the heaviest economic shock among major wealthy countries, according to key official data measures.
But the pace of vaccine distribution has been offset by the gradual increase of the current locking restrictions between now and the end of June.
On Sunday, finance minister Rishi Sunak promised to help the economy while the country remains under restrictions.
In a budget statement Wednesday, it is expected to announce more borrowing in addition to the nearly 300 billion pounds ($ 418 billion) of COVID-19 spending and tax cuts.
Official data showed that 20.09 million people in Britain have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and almost 800,000 have received a second dose.
Last week, Britain said more than one in three adults had received their first vaccine.
Britain also reported on Sunday a further 6,035 cases within the previous 24 hours, with a further 144 deaths within 28 days of a positive trial.
The latest figures meant that cases over the past seven days were down 21.2% compared to the previous seven-day period in February 15-21, and deaths were down 33.5%.
Written by William Schomberg; Edited by Jane Merriman and Susan Fenton