ALMOST 138,000 people in the UK received the Covid jab in the first week with 25million set to have it by Easter.
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahwai said there had been a “really good” start to the NHS vaccination programme.
Health chiefs are now working flatout to accelerate the rollout with the aim of protecting all vulnerable Brits by April.
Boris Johnson hopes it will ease pressure on the NHS and allow him to relax restrictions in a major boost to the economy.
British regulators were the first in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech shot, with the US and Canada following.
Gran Maggie Keenan, 90, from Coventry, was the first to have it last Tuesday.
It will soon be available from hundreds of hospitals, GP surgeries and vaccination centres, such as sport stadiums.
Speaking at a Downing Street briefing, Mr Jonhson said officials are trying to “massively accelerate” the rollout of the vaccine.
The Prime Minister added: “With the vaccine, and all the other measures we are taking, we do know that things will be better in this country by Easter.”
He believes there will be a “crossover” point between now and then where social distancing measures can be relaxed.
But chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty warned lifting them too early could lead to a “huge surge” in infections and leave unvaccinated groups at risk.
He added: “Some of those would get very seriously ill and end up in hospital and some of those would die.
“So we will need to keep it on beyond that period.”
Advisers say 25million vulnerable people, including the elderly, long-term sick and health workers, should be first in line.
Together, they account for 99 per cent of Covid deaths.
The government has ordered 40million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, with 5million expected by the end of the month.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he hopes several million can be vaccinated by Christmas with the rest early next year.
But sources say it is “unrealistic” given the NHS has only been allocated 800,000 doses so far – enough for 400,000 people.
Mr Hancock said: “Thanks to the hard work of the NHS across the UK over 137,000 people have already received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
“This is just the start and we will steadily expand our vaccination programme – ultimately helping everyone get back to normal life.”
Regulators are still assessing the AstraZeneca and Oxford University jab, which is expected to be approved by Christmas.
It is cheaper to produce and easier to distribute, increasing the speed at which it can be used. The UK has ordered 100million doses.
Formal statistics will be published every week from next week to give a running total of how many people have been immunised.
The rate of vaccinations is expected to rise as more doses become available and the programme continues to expand.
Mr Zahawi tweeted: “A really good start to the vaccination programme. It’s been 7 days and we have done: England: 108,000 Wales: 7,897 Northern Ireland: 4,000. Scotland: 18,000 U.K Total 137,897.
“That number will increase as we have operationalised hundreds of primary care networks.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman yesterday said the rollout of the Pfizer vaccine is “a marathon not a sprint”.
People require two doses of the Pfizer jab 21 days apart for the vaccine to be fully effective.
