Whitehall sources last night vowed that all over-50s could be vaccinated by the end of March as figures show that more than three million people have already received the Covid jab.
The Government is preparing to more than double the pace of the vaccine roll-out next week, with vaccines for as many as half a million people per day as ministers vow to hit Boris Johnson’s target of immunising the 15million most vulnerable people by mid-February.
A senior Whitehall source claims that No10 is increasingly confident that all 32million over-50s could receive their first vaccine dose by mid to late March, according to the Times.
A document published by the Scottish government – but then removed – suggests as many as 3.8million people could be vaccinated next week in the UK, indicating a double of the current vaccination rate.
It comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that Britain had passed the 3million mark in total, as London mayor Sadiq Khan complains the capital has received fewer jabs than any other region.
Yesterday the Mail revealed the UK has a stockpile of about 21million jabs to give out – easily enough to meet the Government’s pledge to vaccinate older and clinically vulnerable people by the spring.
Last night, NHS England said an extra 248,177 vaccinations had taken place on January 13 – taking the total to 2,910,027 for England alone.
A document published by the Scottish government – but then removed – suggests as many as 3.8million people could be vaccinated next week in the UK. Pictured: A member of the medical team administers a Covid-19 vaccine injection at the NHS vaccination centre in Robertson House, in Stevenage
Derek Mersh, 82, from from Bramley, is one of the first people to receive the AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine at Superdrug, at the high street store in Guildford today
Of these, 2,494,371 were the first dose of the vaccine – a rise of 239,815 on Wednesday’s figures – while 415,656 were the second dose – an increase of 8,362.
But the document suggests this will be dramatically exceeded next week, when Scotland is due to receive 309,382 doses. If deliveries are evenly spread across the country, this would equate to 3.8million – more than 500,000 per day.
By the end of February, production will have ramped up further with Scotland receiving 443,531 doses a week, suggesting 5.4million will be delivered to the UK.
But the document shows that in some weeks, the supply of vaccines will drastically fall – slowing down the roll-out of the vaccine.
A Government source told the Times the figures in the document are a ‘reasonable best-case scenario’.
‘[They] suggest that we are easily going to meet our target, but there isn’t a lot of headroom there,’ they said. ‘It’s a competitive market and things can go wrong in the production process.’
By the end of February, production will have ramped up further with Scotland 443,531 doses a week, suggesting 5.4million will be delivered to the UK
But the UK Government has repeatedly refused to publish the figures amid concerns other nations will ‘gazump’ the UK and put pressure on vaccine manufacturers if they know how much is being deployed on a weekly basis.
‘It’s insane,’ a Government source said. ‘The figures were given to the Scottish government in strictest confidence. It could undermine the entire programme.’
The data suggests there are two weeks when there is no Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine available, which a source said is due to supply issues.
Under phase one of the vaccination programme, all over-50s and people with serious health conditions will receive the jab.
Ministers have promised that by the middle of February, the top four of the nine groups in phase one will have been vaccinated.
The data suggests there are two weeks when there is no Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine available, which a source said is due to supply issues. Pictured: Louise Gordon, National Nurse Manager, speaks to patients waiting to receive the AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine at Superdrug in Guildford
It is hoped everyone in phase one will have received the jab by the spring.
Mr Johnson tweeted: ‘Superb news that we’ve administered over 3million vaccine doses across the UK. Thank you to all who have responded to the call and to the NHS, Armed Forces and volunteers who make it happen. It brings real hope, but it’s critical that for now we #StayHomeSaveLives.’
The Government last night said up to 2,000 people working in crucial roles in the Covid-19 vaccine supply chain will be offered jabs.
The move is designed to help ensure that there is an uninterrupted flow of doses.
AstraZeneca workers will receive the vaccine imminently following a last-minute change of heart by the Department of Health.