LONDON (Reuters) – More than 20 million people across the UK have now received their first COVID-19 vaccine survey, data showed on Sunday as the country made more progress with the fastest vaccination program in Europe.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the milestone was a major national achievement and testified to the country’s health, workers, volunteers and armed forces.
“I urge everyone to get a jab when they are called,” Johnson said. “Every jab makes a difference in our fight against COVID.”
Britain has suffered the highest COVID-19 mortality rate in Europe – it currently stands at 122,849 – and according to the main measures of official data the biggest economic shock among large rich countries.
But the pace of its vaccination has led to the prospect of gradually lifting the current closure restrictions until the end of June.
Finance Minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday promised to help the economy while keeping the country under restrictions.
In a budget statement on Wednesday, he is expected to announce more loans in addition to his spending and tax cuts of nearly £ 300 billion ($ 418 billion).
Official data showed that a total of 20.09 million people in Britain received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and almost 800,000 received a second dose.
Last week, Britain said more than one in three adults had received their first vaccination.
Britain also reported another 6,035 cases within the previous 24 hours on Sunday, and another 144 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.
The latest figures have meant that cases have decreased by 21.2% over the past seven days compared to the previous seven-day period from 15 to 21 February, and deaths by 33.5%.
Writing by William Schomberg; Edited by Jane Merriman and Susan Fenton