Vaccine for all over-40s: Numbers falling ill with Covid drop to lowest level since pandemic began

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The numbers falling ill with Covid have dropped to the lowest level since the pandemic began in a huge boost for the nation in the same week people in their 40s have been invited to book their jabs.

There are only 757 symptomatic cases a day in England and the chance of getting infected is as low as one in 150,000 for those who have had both jabs.

Meanwhile a Public Health England report revealed infections in the over-80s have fallen to the lowest level on record. And in further good news, hospitalisations and cases continue to plummet in all regions of the country.

From today, anyone aged 40 and over in England can book a vaccination. In total, 48 million jabs have been given across the UK, including 14 million second doses. 

MPs called for the lifting of restrictions to be sped up, while pressure grew for a rethink of rules governing funerals and care homes. But Downing Street is resisting calls to go faster, saying everything is on track for a resumption of near-normal life from June 21. 

NHS England said that text messages will be sent out from Friday to 40 and 41-year-olds allowing them to arrange their vaccination appointments. 

Chief executive of NHS England Sir Simon Stevens said: ‘With nine tenths of people aged 45 and over having been jabbed, nearly three quarters of a million new appointments were made in just two days as our booking service opened to people aged 42 to 44.

‘With second doses also proceeding apace, we’re now ready to invite all those aged 40 and over to join the most successful vaccination drive in health service history.’ 

In other developments:

• British holidaymakers will be able to visit France from June 9 if they are vaccinated or have a negative Covid test;
• A study found that much of Europe could safely be put on the travel ‘green list’ this summer thanks to the successful vaccination programme;
• Nearly three quarters of a million appointments were made on Monday and Tuesday this week as the NHS began inviting over-45s to be vaccinated;
• Ministers faced renewed calls to scrap rules which ‘falsely imprison’ care home residents.

NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens yesterday called the vaccination drive the ‘most successful in health service history’. The latest data shows that it has been extraordinarily effective in slashing infections and hospitalisations. Researchers at King’s College London said the chance of becoming infected if you have not been vaccinated is just one in 45,000. Among those who have received one dose, they put the risk at one in 100,000, while it is just one in 150,000 for those who have had both doses.

The study, based on data gathered from more than a million users of the ZOE Covid Symptom Study app, suggested that infections are now even lower than they were in the summer when lockdown had been lifted. The scientists said that just 1,046 people are getting symptomatic Covid-19 across the whole of the UK each day, including just 757 in England.

The number testing positive each day is averaging 2,258, according to latest Department of Health figures. 

But that includes those who do not have symptoms. Professor Tim Spector, who leads the study, said: ‘It’s a great position to be in. It’s very reassuring that low rates continue despite reopening gyms and outdoor areas in pubs and restaurants, and bodes well for further relaxation of restrictions in line with the Government roadmap out of lockdown.’

Meanwhile, Public Health England’s weekly report into coronavirus revealed that fewer over-80s than ever are catching the virus. There were only 6.3 cases per 100,000 people aged over 80 in the week ending on Sunday, the lowest since the report began in June.

The vaccine rollout has slashed hospital admissions. There are 1,553 patients in hospital with Covid-19, the lowest figure for seven months and down from a peak of 39,000 in January.

Despite the positive data yesterday, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said Britons needed to be ‘careful’ and that it was too soon to hug or mix indoors.

But former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said that the string of good news showed ‘we need to get on with it’ and accelerate the roadmap. A No10 source insisted there was still a need for ‘caution’. 

Over 40? Time for a jab: As Hancock is given his shot by Van-Tam, 2.5million more Britons get their vaccine call this week 

By Kate Pickles for The Daily Mail 

Anyone aged 40 and over in England can book their Covid jab from today as the rollout continues at pace.

Text messages are being sent to 40 and 41-year-olds to arrange vaccination appointments for first doses.

Nearly three-quarters-of-a-million appointments were made on Monday and Tuesday this week as the NHS began inviting over-45s to be vaccinated.

Yesterday, Matt Hancock said it was a ‘privilege’ to receive his first dose of the Oxford jab at the hands of Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam.

The 42-year-old Health Secretary described the process in the vaccination hub at London’s Science Museum as painless.

Alongside a picture on Twitter of himself receiving the injection from a masked Professor Van-Tam, he wrote: ‘Brilliant! Got the jab. In & out in 8 minutes. Didn’t hurt at all. Massive thanks to JVT & the @sciencemuseum team. When you get the call, get the jab!’

NHS England said 2.5million more people have been invited for their jab this week alone.

It comes as the latest NHS England figures revealed more than 28.5million in England had received their first jab by April 28, nearly two thirds of the adult population.

The data, published yesterday, also showed that nearly 12 million people had received their second doses, making them fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Government figures show 48,138,009 vaccinations have now been given across the UK, including 14,043,961 second doses.

NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: ‘With nine tenths of people aged 45 and over having been jabbed, nearly three quarters of a million new appointments were made in just two days as our booking service opened to people aged 42 to 44. With second doses also proceeding apace, we’re now ready to invite all those aged 40 and over to join the most successful vaccination drive in health service history.’

Professor Stephen Powis, medical director for the NHS in England, urged those who receive a text to book their jab.

He said: ‘The rapid rollout of the NHS vaccination programme, the swiftest in Europe, is down to months of careful planning and sheer hard work by nurses, doctors and countless other staff supported by our volunteers.

‘If you receive a text inviting you for your jab, please follow the instructions provided and book – it is simple, effective and provides vital protection against the virus.’

NHS England said that when invited, people will be able to book in at a vaccination centre or pharmacy site through the national booking service.

Text invitations appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’ and include a link to the NHS website to reserve an appointment.

Those who cannot go online can call the service on 119 instead to book their jab.

Meanwhile, regulators have said that the rare blood clotting disorder linked to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine particularly affects younger adults.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency released a more detailed breakdown of figures as government scientists continued to debate whether everyone under 40 should be offered an alternative vaccine. The latest number of cases in the UK was 209, including 41 deaths, up to April 21 – up from 168 cases and 32 deaths a week earlier. The estimated number of first doses administered in the UK by then was 22million, giving an overall case incidence of around one per every 108,000 doses.

‘The data suggest there is a higher incidence reported in the younger adult age groups’, said the regulator. ‘This evolving evidence should be taken into account when considering the use of the vaccine.’