As UK deaths from coronavirus top a grim milestone of 80,000, the quick rollout of coronavirus vaccinations cannot come soon enough for the UK. The UK has had 3.26 million cases of the virus so far, with 2.83 million of these being in England.
While coronavirus rates are thankfully dropping in a number of areas across the UK, there is still a way to go until restrictions can be lifted.
Three million people have now been vaccinated, with hundreds of thousands now being vaccinated per day.
Currently the top priority groups for vaccination are the over 80s, those in care homes and healthcare workers.
There are currently three vaccinations approved for use in the UK: Pfizer/BioNTech, Oxford/AstraZeneca, and Moderna.
All of these vaccines are given in two doses, and you get good protection from the disease within two to three weeks of receiving your first dose.
The second dose can be given anytime between three and 12 weeks after the first.
The second dose completes the course, and it is absolutely essential you get both doses otherwise you will not be protected from the virus.
Initially, the strategy for the Pfizer vaccine was to offer people the second dose 21 days after their initial jab, as full immunity starts seven days after the second dose.
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Do I need to get the Covid vaccine if I’ve already had coronavirus?
According to the NHS, you must get a vaccine even if you’ve already had the virus.
The advice reads: “Even if you’ve already had coronavirus, you could still get it again.
“The vaccine will reduce your risk of another infection and the seriousness of your symptoms if you do get it again.
“If you’ve recently tested positive for coronavirus – even if you have no symptoms – you should wait until 4 weeks after the date you were tested before getting the vaccine.
“The vaccine is your best protection against coronavirus.”
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They are:
- Residents in care homes for older adults and their carers
- 80-year-olds and over and frontline health and social care workers
- 75-year-olds and over
- 70-year-olds and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
- 65-year-olds and over
- 16- to 64-year-olds with serious underlying health conditions
- 60-year-olds and over
- 55-year-olds and over
- 50-year-olds and over
The current target is to have all over-70s and clinically extremely vulnerable vaccinated by mid-February.
Source: Daily Express
