Health

UK expands vaccinations; 6 million shots given

UK expands vaccinations; 6 million shots given

By Associated Press

People exercise along the bank of the River Thames in London, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021 during England's third national lockdown since the coronavirus outbreak began. The UK is under an indefinite national lockdown to curb the spread of the new variant, with nonessential shops, gyms and hairdressers closed, and people being told to stay at home. Photo: AP

LONDON: Britain is expanding a coronavirus vaccination program that has seen almost 6 million people get the first of two doses -- even as the country’s death toll in the pandemic approaches 100,000. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Sunday that three-quarters of the U.K.’s over-80s have received a vaccine shot. He said three-quarters of nursing home residents have also had their first jab. Almost 5.9 million doses of vaccine had been administered by Saturday. Health officials aim to vaccinate 15 million people, including everyone over 70, by Feb. 15. Britain’s vaccination campaign is a rare success in a country with Europe’s worst coronavirus outbreak. The U.K. has recorded 97,329 deaths among people who tested positive. Another 1,348 deaths were reported Saturday, and the U.K. is set within days to become the fifth country in the world to record 100,000 COVID-19 deaths.