The United Kingdom has reached its goal of vaccinating nearly 15 million of its most vulnerable citizens with the new crown vaccine. As of Saturday, the U.K. had administered 15.1 million doses of the vaccine, Bloomberg reports. Almost 22 percent of the population had received their first dose, and less than 1 percent of the population had received two doses. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson set the target earlier this year with the aim of vaccinating all people over the age of 70, elderly people in nursing homes, caregivers, and those most at risk of contracting the new crown virus. These populations are estimated to account for 88 percent of new-crown deaths in the United Kingdom.
According to a previous target set by the UK government, vaccination will be completed by February 15 for the four most vulnerable groups, including nursing Home elderly, caregivers, and people over 70 years old, with a target number of 15 million people.
For the Johnson administration, reaching that target was a welcome political booster. The Johnson administration has come under fire for its handling of the outbreak that claimed 117,000 lives in the country. But reaching key vaccine targets also poses new risks for the administration.
“I can tell you that we are on track and we are confident that we will meet the target by Feb. 15,” British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said in an interview with Sky TV on Sunday, reiterating comments Johnson made Saturday. Both leaders said the government would remain cautious in easing embargo measures even as new cases decline and the vaccine push is on track.
The vaccination program is providing a way out of the third U.K. embargo. The blockade has already closed most businesses and schools, adding to a situation that has led to the worst economic downturn in more than 300 years. The U.K. now ranks first in Europe and fifth in the world in the number of deaths from the new crown.
Senior members of Johnson’s Conservative government have been calling on him to speed up the easing of restrictions to avoid a wave of job losses. However, with infection levels still among the highest in Europe, Johnson and his scientific advisers explained that they need to remain cautious and that restrictions could continue for months to come.
In the following week, the British government will review the embargo restrictions. Then, on Feb. 22, Johnson will announce his “roadmap” to gradually open the country in the coming months.
If all goes well, schools will first open from March 8. Asked if all schools will be allowed to open on the 8th, Raab said on Sky TV: “We are confident that we can start the process of opening schools on the 8th.”
The British government plans to provide the vaccine to all people over the age of 50 by the end of April.
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