Five million fully vaccinated in UK as Covid deaths drop to lowest figure since September

Five million people have now had their second jab (Photo: Getty Images)
Five million people have now had their second jab (Photo: Getty Images)
Five million people have now had their second jab (Photo: Getty Images)

More than five million people in the UK have now received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, latest figures show.

The landmark vaccination count comes as the country reported its lowest number of coronavirus deaths since mid-September.

Second doses prioritised in April

Government data up to 2 April shows that of the 36,631,187 coronavirus vaccinations given in the UK so far, a total of 31,425,682 of these were first doses.

The total number of people who have received both doses is currently 5,205,505.

Second doses are being prioritised throughout April following a warning that vaccine supplies will fall this month.

Around 12 million people are expected to receive their second dose during April, allowing everyone in the priority grounds to get fully vaccinated within 12 weeks of their first jab.

Despite an anticipated fall in supplies, the government has said it is still on target to offer all adults in the UK their first vaccine dose by the end of July.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the news that more than five million people are now fully vaccinated in the UK, stating: “We’ve reached another milestone in our vaccination programme with over five million people now having had their second jab.

“I urge everyone to take up their second dose as soon as they are offered it.”

Lowest deaths since September

The government said that another 10 deaths had been recorded within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Saturday, according to the latest figures, bringing the UK total to 126,826.

However, this marks a fall from the 52 deaths reported on Friday and 58 last Saturday, with deaths reaching the lowest level since nine were reported on 14 September last year.

Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have been 150,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

The government also said that, as of 9am on Saturday, there had been a further 3,423 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK, bringing the total to 4,357,091.