Tribune News Service

London, June 18

The UK's health officials on Friday opened up the country's Covid-19 vaccination programme to all adults, in what has been dubbed as the “final push” to offer protection against the deadly virus.

The National Health Service (NHS) said everyone aged 18 and over was being urged to arrange a jab. It has begun sending around 1.5 million texts to those aged 18-20.

It said the latest “milestone” in the NHS Covid Vaccination Programme came fewer than 200 days since the health service made history by delivering the first Covid-19 vaccine outside of a clinical trial on December 8, 2020. “Offering all adults a jab less than 200 days after the programme launched is one of our country's greatest collective achievements, saving over 14,000 lives so far,” said

UK PM Boris Johnson. “I cannot thank NHS staff, the Army, volunteers, manufacturers and all those involved in this extraordinary national effort enough.”

According to latest figures, around eight in 10 adults have had their first dose, while more than half have had their second dose, seen as vital in the fight against the highly transmissible Delta variant. “The NHS has administered over 72 million jabs across the UK,” said Health Secretary Matt Hancock. — PTI

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