A SINGLE dose of a coronavirus vaccine can give 90 per cent protection from the disease as new figures show jabs are slashing hospitalisations.
The results apply to the Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines, with the British jab proving slightly more effective against the bug.
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The figures were calculated by comparing people who had received a first dose of the jab with others of a similar age who had not got their vaccine yet.
According to the analysis, the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is more effective than the Pfizer jab at stopping people getting seriously ill from Covid-19 to the point that they need to be hospitalised, the Mail on Sunday reports.
A single shot from either jabs cuts the risk of needing hospital treatment by more than 90 per cent, results from the NHS vaccination programme show.
The figures follow a separate study by Edinburgh University – published last week – which found that “the Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines were shown to reduce the risk of hospitalisation from Covid-19 by up to 85 per cent and 94 per cent, respectively.”
Phase 1 of the ambitious Covid rollout of first doses – covering 32million Brits either aged 50 and over and those at high risk – should be completed by April 15.
AMBITIOUS ROLLOUT
Phase 2 will start with those aged 40 to 49 being offered protection, then all those aged 30 and 39 before the 18 to 29-year-olds will be included.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended that vaccinations should continue by descending age, not occupation.
The JCVI said the approach will “provide the greatest benefit in the shortest time”.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock, meanwhile, has praised the “unbelievably brilliant” effort and enthusiasm shown by volunteers.
Some 2,500 vaccination centres have been manned by NHS staff, retired nurses and GPs.
They have been aided by Royal Voluntary Service heroes, including 50,000 from Trending In The News.
Mr Hancock said: “The Jabs Army marches on. They are doing an amazing job.
“I’m very grateful to everybody who has given up time.”
Brits, include those who have already received their jab, have been urged to continue following the restrictions.
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer, has warned against relaxing too soon, saying: “I do worry that people think it’s all over.
“Just continue to maintain discipline and hang on just a few more months. We are so close.”
According to the latest data, a further 290 people have died of Covid in the UK – with the grim daily toll down by 34 per cent on last Saturday.
Another 7,434 people have tested positive overnight, with a total of 4,170,519 infections recorded since the start of the pandemic.
This time last week, 10,406 more people tested positive and 445 died – and the previous Saturday, February 13, 13,308 new cases and 621 deaths were recorded.
