People who are listed as a clinically extremely vulnerable and age group of 70 and over, will begin receiving offers of a coronavirus vaccine this week.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the move was a “significant milestone” in the nation’s vaccination programme.
It comes as 10 new mass vaccination hubs open across England.
Also from today, the UK is closing its travel corridors?to protect against “as yet unidentified new strains” of Covid.
The expansion of the vaccination programme to the third and fourth priority groups comes after the number of people to receive a first dose rose to 3.8 million across the UK – more than have tested positive (3.4 million) since the pandemic began.
However, people in the top two groups – care home residents, those aged 80 and over and front-line healthcare workers – should still be prioritised for vaccinations, the Department for Health and Social Care said.
A further 298,087 people received their first dose of the vaccine on Saturday, and Health Secretary Matt Hancock said half of all those aged 80 and over had received at least one vaccine dose so far.
The new mass vaccination centres are in:
- Bournemouth International Centre, Dorset
- Taunton Racecourse, Somerset
- Blackburn Cathedral, Lancashire
- Salt Hill Activity Centre, Berkshire
- Norwich Food Court, Norfolk
- The Lodge in Wickford, Essex
- Princess Royal Sports Arena, Boston, Lincolnshire
- St Helens Rugby Ground, Merseyside
- The park-and-ride at Askham Bar, York
- Olympic Office Centre in Wembley, north London