Half of UK adults fully vaccinated against Covid-19, figures show

By PA

There has been one further Covid-19 death recorded by Stormont’s Department of Health.

The death was included in the departmental statistics on Thursday but did not occur in the previous 24-hour reporting period.

There have been another 80 confirmed cases of the virus recorded.

On Thursday morning there were 17 confirmed Covid-19 inpatients in hospital, one of whom was in intensive care.

Meanwhile, half of adults in the UK are estimated to have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, latest figures show.

The milestone comes a day after the Government announced that three-quarters of adults had received their first dose.

A total of 26,422,303 second doses have now been delivered since the vaccination rollout began almost six months ago.

This is the equivalent of 50.2% of all people aged 18 and over.

In England, 22,442,383 second doses have been given – the equivalent of 50.7% of the adult population.

England is slightly ahead of the other three nations of the UK, with Scotland on 48.2% (2,137,618 second doses), Northern Ireland on 47.1% (684,398 second doses) and Wales on 45.9% (1,157,904 second doses).

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi tweeted: “Another important milestone today. 50% of all adults in the UK have had the protection of two doses. Thank you to a brilliant team. We keep going.”

The latest figures have been published by the UK’s four health agencies.

They also show that an estimated 75.5% of UK adults have now received a first dose of vaccine.

In Wales 85.7% of adults are estimated to have had a first jab, some way ahead of England (75.0%), Scotland (74.6%) and Northern Ireland (73.9%).

The Government has said it intends to offer a first dose of a vaccine to all adults by the end of July, and both doses to everyone aged 50 and over by June 21.