NHS staff have vaccinated more than half a million patients against coronavirus in under two weeks, according to official figures published today.
The NHS delivered the world’s first COVID vaccination outside of a clinical trial to Margaret Keenan in Coventry on Tuesday December 8.
A total of 521,594 people have received an NHS vaccination in the 13 days that followed to Sunday 20 December, the first of what will be weekly data reports shows.
Some 366,715 of those vaccinated were aged 80, making up 70% of the total number of jabs administered.
Priority groups for vaccination in this initial phase were determined by Government following advice from the JCVI and were people aged 80 and over as well as care home residents and staff.
NHS national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said: “The NHS made history when Maggie Keenan became the first person in the world to be vaccinated against COVID and, thanks to the hard work of our brilliant staff, half a million more people have followed hot on her heels in getting protection against the virus.
“This vaccine presents a number complex logistical challenges but the NHS response has been nothing short of phenomenal, with hundreds of hospitals and local vaccination centres stood up across the country.
“More centres are coming online now and in the new year as we accelerate delivery as more vaccine comes on stream.”
Vaccines were delivered at 60 hospital hubs and 423 local vaccination sites in the 13 days to Sunday.
Since then that has increased to almost 80 hospital hubs and over 500 GP led vaccinations centres. Vaccinations have also taken place in care homes.
This new dataset will be reported weekly and will develop over time as we are able to quality assure data. It is published here.
