Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
English claims to have successfully vaccinated more than half of its population with COVID-19 with at least one injection, health secretary Matt Hancock said on Saturday.
Official data shows a total of 33.51 million people in the UK have received the first dose of the vaccine, with more than 12 million people having been given the second dose of the vaccine.
“This is a brilliant milestone,” said Hancock in a video posted on Twitter.
The UK’s official population is 66.8 million, says the Department of Health and Social Care.
The UK’s launch of vaccinations, which has accelerated faster than countries in the European Union, means the country is on track to ease lockdown measures and reopen the economy in line with its plans.
“This vaccination program is our way out of this pandemic,” added Hancock.
Officials also reported on Saturday that there were 2,061 coronavirus cases and 32 deaths within 28 days of testing positive.
Meanwhile, UK officials are close to finalizing a deal to buy tens of millions more doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for the third booster dose given to parents this fall, as written by Sunday Times report.
Government sources told the newspaper they hoped to double the order by as much as 40 million.
If the talks are successful, the additional stock could also be used for those in their 20s, who will be offered an alternative to AstraZeneca, the report added.
The UK NHS will start inviting those in their 30s for the vaccine by the end of this week.
(REUTERS/ard)
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