London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Aug 01, 2025

First and second Covid jabs surge in England

First and second Covid jabs surge in England

Amid the much-publicised drive to give booster jabs to one million Britons a day, thousands more people came forward for their first or second Covid vaccines last week.

A total of 221,564 first doses were given in England between 15 and 21 December - 46% up on the previous week - while 279,112 second jabs were given.

UK-wide, the daily vaccination figures were at their highest for six weeks.

But despite the mini rush, 10.2% of over-12s are yet to have any vaccine.

The UK recorded a new high of 122,186 daily Covid cases on Friday.

The largest increase in vaccine uptake in the week to 21 December was among young people, with an 85% uplift in first jabs for 18-24-year-olds and a 71% rise for the 25-30 age-group.

The same week saw more over-60s get their first Covid jab than during any seven-day period since the beginning of June.

So far, more than 51 million people in the UK have had a first vaccine dose - some 90% of over-12s. More than 47 million - 82% of over-12s - have had both doses.

The figures come as the NHS continues its push to meet the government's accelerated booster rollout - with the aim to offer every eligible adult in England a booster by the end of the month.

Scotland and Wales also aim to offer booster appointments to all eligible adults before the end of the year, while last week Northern Ireland's booster programme opened to over-18s who received their second dose at least three months earlier.

More than 32 million boosters and third doses have now been given in the UK, amounting to 56% of the population aged 12 and over.

An early analysis of British Omicron and Delta variant cases by the UK Health Security Agency found that two doses of a vaccine were less effective at stopping Omicron, but a third or booster dose prevented around 75% of people from getting any Covid symptoms.

NHS England said it expected to give thousands of first, second and booster doses on Christmas Day, with volunteer vaccinators across England working during the festive period to get jabs in arms.

Vaccination centres are not open in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or Wales on 25 or 26 December.

The government and NHS England have launched an advertising campaign for the expanded booster programme, urging the public to "Get Boosted Now".

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said it had "never been more vital to get your jabs" and called the recent increase in first and second doses "excellent".

Vaccination appointments continue to be available during the festive period. Extra vaccine centres and pop-up sites have opened, while a total of 750 armed forces personnel have been drafted in to help with the booster rollout.

There are roughly 3,000 vaccination sites around the country, with further pop-up sites due to be opened in the most accessible places for local communities.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced last week that it would give £22.5m to councils to encourage people to get vaccinated in the run-up to Christmas - with community vaccine champions set to target 60 local authorities with the lowest vaccine uptake.

Figures issued on Friday by the Office for National Statistics estimate 1.74 million people in the UK had coronavirus on 19 December, up by more than 368,000 on the figure three days earlier.

This equates to 2.7% of the population or one in 35 people. In London, that figure was one in 20.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
×