More than 20 million will receive the first dose of covid vaccine in the UK

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London (AFP)

Britain announced on Sunday that it has given at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine to more than 20 million people, with the rapid spread giving hope in a country with the highest death toll in Europe.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it a “major national achievement” and praised NHS staff and others involved for “tireless work”.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the announcement in a video message on Twitter, saying: “I am delighted that over 20 million people have now been vaccinated.”

20,089,551 people have received their first dose, according to government figures released Sunday.

But spoiling the good news was the discovery of a coronavirus strain that appeared in Brazil, which is feared to be more infectious and resistant to vaccines.

In mid-February, the UK met a government target of 15 million of the most vulnerable people receiving first doses.

The government says it plans to offer the first injection to the entire adult population by the end of July.

Only Israel and the United Arab Emirates have vaccinated more people per head of population.

Laughing, Hancock said “I want to thank everyone who came forward to get the injection,” calling this “the way out of here for all of us. “

“There is a long way to go but we are making great progress,” he said.

The UK vaccination program has been rolling out rapidly since its inception in early December, when it became the first country in the world to introduce the major vaccine with a fully tested vaccine.

Earlier in communications failed to detect and control the spread of infectious cases rising in the UK and the country’s death tax of 122,705 is the highest in Europe.

The country remains under national lock-in but day-to-day affairs, hospitalization and deaths have fallen sharply since the end of January, despite a more contagious variation in the country.

Another variant that appeared in Manaus, northern Brazil, was found in six in the UK, and none of them could be found due to incomplete contact information, health authorities said Sunday.

6,035 new cases were reported daily Sunday and 144 deaths, the lowest numbers since early autumn.

On Thursday, Britain lowered the country’s virus alert rate down one level from the highest possible, saying the fall in cases had reduced the risk to the state-led National Health Service.

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