Over-25s in England can now receive their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
It's now six months after the first jab was administered in the UK – as ministers continue to weigh up whether remaining lockdown restrictions will be lifted on June 21.
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Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that those aged 25 to 29 in England – around three million people – will be invited to book their jabs from today as the NHS hailed reaching the 'home straight' of the biggest vaccination programme in its history.
Exactly six months ago, on December 8 2020, grandmother Margaret Keenan, 91, became the first patient in the world to receive a Covid-19 jab outside of a clinical trial when she was given the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in Coventry.
Mr Hancock also told MPs on Monday that it was too early to say whether England’s remaining coronavirus restrictions will be lifted on June 21, as case rates rose in more areas of the UK than at any point since early January.
Reports have suggested the final step in the Government’s road map could be delayed by two weeks, with The Times saying ministers were given a “downbeat” briefing on the latest data on Monday by chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.
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Mr Hancock said a decision on moving to Step 4 would be delayed as long as possible, with a final announcement to be made next Monday – a week before any changes could come into effect.
Downing Street said there was “nothing in the data” to suggest a delay would be needed.
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