Almost two-thirds of elderly care home residents have had a COVID-19 vaccine – with vaccinations among all groups occurring at 200 jabs per minute, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told MPs.
“I’m delighted to say 63% of residents in elderly care homes have now received a vaccination, that is a really significant increase over the last week,” Mr Hancock told the House of Commons on Thursday.
“And we’re on track to deliver on our goal of vaccinating elderly care home residents by the end of this month, and I hope sooner than that.”
The health secretary said, in total, more than five million doses of COVID vaccine have so far been delivered to 4.6 million people.
“This is a huge feat and one in which we can all take pride,” Mr Hancock said.
“We’re vaccinating at a greater daily rate than anywhere in Europe.”
He added: “This virus is a lethal threat to us all and as we respond through this huge endeavour, let’s all take comfort in the fact that we’re giving 200 vaccinations every minute.
“But, in the meantime, everyone must follow the rules to protect the NHS and save lives.”
“And we can do that safe in the knowledge that the tide will turn and that, with science, we will prevail.”