Obese Brits will get Covid vaccines before millions of over 60s – as priority list is updated

FAT Brits will get vaccinated against Covid before millions of people in their 60s, new guidelines reveal.

Official advice states “at-risk” adults should be prioritised for the jab ahead of those under-65.

The group includes younger Brits who are morbidly obese and type 1 diabetics as well as type 2 diabetics, the majority of whom are overweight.

Tubby adults are twice as likely to be killed by coronavirus.

It comes just days after Trending In The News revealed NHS workers will be first in line to be immunised as part of the “biggest vaccination campaign in history”.

Overall priority was expected to be given to elderly care home residents who are at greatest risk of dying from Covid.

But health bosses will now opt to initially jab NHS staff due to logistical problems.

Officials say there is a 50/50 chance the Pfizer drug – which offers 95 per cent protection – will be approved next week, with hospitals gearing up for early December roll-out.

But it is too hard to deliver at scale in the community, as it has to be stored at -70C and can only be thawed in batches of 1,000 before immunisation.

Health bosses are gambling the Oxford-developed AstraZeneca jab, which can be kept in a normal fridge, will be approved soon after.

It means those most vulnerable to Covid, such as care home residents and over 80s, may end up getting vaccinated weeks after NHS staff.

The final priority list is being drawn up by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

But Public Health England yesterday released an updated order.

It advises 2.2million Brits asked to shield in the first lockdown should get vaccinated ahead of some OAPs.

And “at risk” adults have moved up to the sixth priority group and include asthmatics, kidney patients, diabetics, morbidly obese and the immunosuppressed.

However, pregnant women will not be given the Covid jab – even if they are in high-risk categories.

Official guidance states expectant NHS staff must delay getting immunised until after they deliver.

Under-18s will also be given the vaccine if they work in care homes, GPs or hospitals.

Thousands of retired health workers, as well as trainee medics and nurses, are being urged to help deliver the jab at record speed.

NHS bosses are now advertising for “Vaccination Programme Vaccinator” with pay starting from £11.20 per hour.