Covid vaccine: How many people in the UK have been vaccinated so far?
By The Visual and Data Journalism Team
BBC News
Published5 hours ago
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Coronavirus pandemic
Illustration of queues of people
More than 27 million people in the UK have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine - part of the biggest inoculation programme the country has ever launched.
In a race against a faster-spreading variant of the virus, ministers have pinned their hopes of easing a third national lockdown on vaccinating as many adults as possible by summer.
But vaccine supply issues have continued to make the rollout bumpy.
Who can get a vaccine now?
The UK government aims to offer a first vaccine dose to about 32 million people in nine priority groups by 15 April.
The programme in England is now inviting those aged 50 and above to book appointments after the first four groups - those aged 70 and over, care home residents, healthcare workers and people required to shield - were offered a jab by mid-February.
These groups account for 88% of deaths so far.
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The over 55s in Scotland, the over 50s in Northern Ireland and the over 50s in Wales have been asked to book appointments.
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From spring, the government then plans to begin vaccinating the rest of the adult population in age order, another 21 million people.
People in their 40s will be next, once the current phase is completed.
Infographic showing the priority group order for the vaccine rollout
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More than 27.6 million people so far have had a first vaccine dose and more than two million have had a second.
The number of first doses administered each day is once again reaching more than 400,000 after a drop in late February and early March.
The government has often described vaccine supplies as "lumpy" and the UK is expected to see a reduction in doses available during April.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told MPs the drop has been caused by the need to re-test the stability of 1.7 million doses as well as a delay in the scheduled arrival of jabs from the Serum Institute of India.
He added that the country was still on track to offer a first dose to everyone aged 50 and over by the end of April, and to all adults by the end of July.
Chart showing daily first and second doses administered. Updated 21March.
The campaign to reach as many people as quickly as possible was boosted by a shift in policy in early January - to prioritise the first dose of a vaccine, with a second dose up to 12 weeks later, a bigger gap than originally planned.
The progress made in the UK so far means the country continues to be among those with the highest vaccination rates globally.
Chart showing the UK in second place when ranking according to doses administered per 100 people in the 10 countries with most vaccinations
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Has the rollout been even across all areas?
There has been some regional variation in the vaccine programme.
In England, about half of the adult population have now had at least one dose. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are close to the half-way mark too.
In Wales, about 13% of the population have also had a second dose - the highest of the four nations. This is mainly driven by vaccinations given to people working in the health and care sectors.
Chart showing the % of people aged 18 and over who have received first and second doses of vaccine
When looking at people aged 55 and above, on average 85% of that age group in England have had a dose of the vaccine, but again, there is some regional variation.
Chart showing the % of people aged 55 and over who have had their first dose, by nation and English region
The Midlands and South West have each reached 87% of people in the same age group, but London has given the shot to 79%.
Scotland has reached 82% of over 55s, Wales has reached 75% and Northern Ireland has reached 61%.
There have also been disparities between ethnic groups and poorer and wealthier areas.
Analysis of NHS records by the OpenSAFELY group - a collaboration between Oxford University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - shows that black people were the least likely to have received a vaccine among three of the older age groups.
Chart showing take-up of the vaccine is lower among ethnic minorities
The study was based on more than 20 million patient records in England and covers people not living in care homes. Areas of London are under-represented in the data.
In addition, 91% of those aged 80 and over in the poorest areas had been given a vaccine by 11 March compared with 96% in the most affluent areas.
Chart showing people in poorer areas are less likely to have had a vaccine
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Are the vaccines having an impact?
When looking for evidence for whether the campaign is working, data for England shows coronavirus numbers are falling faster for vaccinated groups compared with unvaccinated groups.
This suggests that the vaccine is starting to push numbers down, instead of as a result other factors, like the lockdown.
Chart showing deaths of over-65s fell more sharply than those aged under 65
On average, deaths of over-65s fell by 60% between 27 February-13 March, compared with 50% for under-65s.
Coronavirus hospital admissions are also falling faster for older age groups.
We would expect this effect to become stronger over time - but this might take several weeks, and significant population coverage.
Vaccines cut risk of serious illness by 80% in over-80s
Where are the vaccines coming from?
The UK is currently receiving doses of two vaccines approved by the medicine regulator.
The Pfizer-BioNTech jab - the first to be given the green light in December - is being imported from Puurs, Belgium.
A second vaccine, from Oxford University and AstraZeneca, is being made in Britain by two biotech companies: Oxford BioMedica, based in Oxford; and Cobra Biologics, based at Keele Science Park, Staffs.
Another company, Wockhardt, based in Wrexham, fills the vials and packages them for use.
Further doses are coming from the Serum Institute of India.
Map showing where the vaccines are made: Oxford in the UK and India; Pfizer in Belgium
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Supplies of a third vaccine to be approved, made by US company Moderna, will come from Europe and are expected in the next few weeks.
Table comparing the Oxford, Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax and Janssen vaccines
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The UK is also lined up to receive at least three other vaccines if they are approved for use.
A jab manufactured by US firm Novavax will be made in Stockton-on-Tees in north-east England, while another by French company Valneva will be made in Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland.
The third, by Belgian firm Janssen, owned by Johnson & Johnson, should also be available later this year.
How will people be vaccinated?
People will be vaccinated in three main ways, at:
Local GP practices and community pharmacies
Hospital hubs
Major vaccination sites across the country
Map showing the UK's hospital hubs and mass vaccination sites
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The government has urged the public to "play their part" in supporting "the largest vaccination programme in British history", including helping people attend their appointments.
Is there enough vaccine?
The UK has ordered more than 400 million doses of seven of the most promising vaccines.
Three have so far been approved for use: Oxford-AstraZeneca; Pfizer-BioNTech; and Moderna.
Chart showing the vaccine doses the UK has on order
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The UK government has also announced an eighth deal with biopharmaceutical company CureVac to develop vaccines against future variants.
It has placed an initial order for 50 million doses to be delivered later this year - if they are required.
But there have been a number of challenges in what is called the vaccine "supply chain" - the logistics of how the jab gets from manufacturers to people.
Getting enough supplies, checking those supplies are up to scratch and transporting vaccines according to their requirements have all thrown up difficulties.
Infographic showing the UK vaccine supply chain: 1. Manufacture 2. Fill and finish 3. Batch test and approval 4. Cold chain delivery
