Covid UK LIVE: Hancock: Vaccines ‘breaking the link’ between hospitalisation and death

Doctor Anil Mehta and Apprentice Nursing Associate Ellie Bull prepare syringes with doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine

(PA)

The Covid-19 vaccine rollout is “breaking” the link between infection, hospitalization and death, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

People aged 40-49 will be prioritised next for the coronavirus vaccine after scientists said the UK vaccination programme should “prioritise age over key workers”.

After all the over-50s have been offered a first jab, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said the next priority groups will be all those aged 40-49, followed by all aged 30-39 and then those aged 18-29.

Headteachers’ union Association of School and College Leaders said it is “disappointed” the JCVI decided against prioritising education staff for the next phase of the rollout.

Meanwhile a study from Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge showed a single dose of Pfizer/BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine “dramatically reduces” the number of asymptomatic infections by 75 per cent.

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