UK hits key vaccine target just as pubs, shops and salons reopen

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Britain said late Monday it had hit a target to offer a coronavirus vaccine first dose to all over-50s by mid-April, as England's lockdown-weary population toasted a significant easing of restrictions with pints and much-needed haircuts.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK had passed "another hugely significant milestone" after confirming a jab had been offered to all over-50s, the clinically vulnerable and health and social care workers, ahead of a self-imposed April 15 deadline.

"That means more than 32 million people have been given the precious protection vaccines provide against Covid 19," he said in a statement, adding efforts would now focus on delivering second doses and offering all adults an initial shot by August.

The British leader had earlier hailed the latest lifting of rules as "a major step forward in our roadmap to freedom", after pubs were allowed to reopen to serve drinkers outside and non-essential retailers and hairdressers restarted.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/uk-hits-key-vaccine-target-just-as-pubs-shops-and-salons-reopen/ar-BB1fzXDu

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. Offering it to everyone, while wonderful,

is not the same as everyone in that age range getting it.

Do they have the many vaccination refusers there as we do here?

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. In England outside London, the uptake has been 88% or above for the over 50s

https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/first-covid-vaccine-doses-for-over-50s-by-england-local-authority/

(well, the lowest outside London was 87.9%, to be exact; and Stratford-on-Avon managed 100.1%, because it's vaccines given v. population in the area - so there's a bit of movement across the boundaries). I'm not sure why the London figures are so low, though.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. Just a wild guess here, but it could be as simple

as how very populous the city of London is, and that it's simply harder to get the vaccine distributed to so many people.

Unless you mean that about 12% of that age group have refused, which would be something else entirely.

[cinematicdiversions]

4. The London figures are low partially because London is much more cosmopolitan than the rest.

And certain ethnic and cultural enclaves are hesitant to get vaccinated int eh same numbers as the majority.

[Johonny]

5. I believe they are only doing one shot, instead of the US two doses.

It gets more vaccine out to more people, but at half the dosage. It's probably okay, but no one really knows. They are delaying second shot 12 weeks. We will see.

[HipChick]

6. They are doing 2nd shot, though 3 months later not 21 days..