London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Sep 14, 2025

One in 25 people hospitalised with Covid in UK since December have had vaccine

One in 25 people hospitalised with Covid in UK since December have had vaccine

Sage says majority were likely infected shortly before or soon after jab, before immunity had time to develop
One in 25 people hospitalised with Covid-19 since December have had at least one dose of vaccine, with the majority infected shortly before or soon after vaccination – before immunity would have had time to develop.

However, few of those who developed symptoms, did so more than 2 weeks after receiving a first dose – indicating that the vaccines do help to prevent serious disease once they’ve had time to take effect.

The data, presented to the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), could be a further indication that people are dropping their guard once they’ve received a jab, wrongly assuming that they are immediately protected.

Alternative explanations include the possibility that they were infected shortly before vaccination, during the vaccine appointment itself, or that vaccination triggered symptoms in infected people who were previously asymptomatic.

In minutes from its 83rd meeting on 11 March Sage said:“The observation that a significant number of people developing symptoms within a few days of a first dose may suggest some behaviour change following vaccination. It is important therefore that communications around vaccination reinforce the need for safe behaviours to be maintained.”

Almost 29 million people in the UK have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine so far, with some degree of immune protection thought to develop around two weeks after receiving the first jab – although a second dose is needed to achieve the highest levels of protection.

According to data submitted to Sage by the Covid-19 Clinical Information Network (CO-CIN), there were 1,802 recorded cases of vaccinated patients hospitalised with Covid-19 in the UK as of 5 March. This accounted for 4.2% (1,802/42,788) of all Covid-related hospital admissions since 8 December – the date when the first people in the UK were vaccinated.

The median time between vaccination and symptom onset for these patients was five days, indicating that most of them were infected shortly before or around the time of vaccination, with the remainder infected after vaccination but before immunity had developed.

“Elderly and vulnerable people who had been shielding, may have inadvertently been exposed and infected either through the end-to-end process of vaccination, or shortly after vaccination through behavioural changes where they wrongly assume they are immune,” the CO-CIN report said.

Data from previous vaccine rollouts, national surveys and evidence from Israel have also indicated that people may be less likely to abide by social distancing rules once they’ve been vaccinated.

In its 11 March meeting, Sage emphasised the need for better government communication about how long it takes for the jab to work, and that although the Covid-19 vaccines in use in the UK are highly effective, no vaccine is 100% effective. Minutes from the meeting said: “Some people will be hospitalised with Covid-19 even after completing their full vaccination schedule. It will be particularly important to monitor the prevalence of different variants present in this group by sequencing to understand any potential immune escape. This is under way by Public Health England.”

A separate document released by Sage on Friday suggested there has been a four-fold increase in confirmed cases of the Brazilian P1 variant during the fortnight of 10 March to 24 March from 5 to 21, while cases of the South African variant have increased from 190 to 305.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Murdoch Family Finalises $3.3 Billion Succession Pact, Ensuring Eldest Son’s Leadership
Big Oil Slashes Jobs and Investments Amid Prolonged Low Crude Prices
Court Staff Cover Up Banksy Image of Judge Beating a Protester
Social Media Access Curtailed in Turkey After CHP Calls for Rallies Following Police Blockade of Istanbul Headquarters
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
Elon Musk Poised to Become First Trillionaire Under Ambitious Tesla Pay Plan
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
Burning the Minister’s House Helped Protesters to Win Justice: Prabowo Fires Finance Minister in Wake of Indonesia Protests
Brazil Braces for Fallout from Bolsonaro Trial by corrupted judge
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
Nearly 40 Years Later: Nike Changes the Legendary Slogan Just Do It
×