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World / Europe

UK's 'Herculean' vaccine target can be achieved, minister says

Published: 06 Jan 2021 - 10:33 am | Last Updated: 06 Nov 2021 - 02:06 am
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson looks on as junior sister Susan Cole receives the Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine during his visit at the Chase Farm Hospital, in north London, Britain January 4, 2021. Stefan Rousseau/Pool via Reuters

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson looks on as junior sister Susan Cole receives the Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine during his visit at the Chase Farm Hospital, in north London, Britain January 4, 2021. Stefan Rousseau/Pool via Reuters

Reuters

London: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's "Herculean" aim to vaccinate around 14 million of the most vulnerable people against Covid-19 by the middle of next month is achievable, his vaccine minister said on Wednesday.

Johnson has set a target of vaccinating the elderly, including care home residents, the clinically vulnerable and frontline workers - around 14 million people - by mid-February.

Asked if it was achievable to vaccinate 14 million people by the middle of February and 2 million vaccinations each week by the end of this month, Minister for Covid Vaccine Deployment Nadhim Zahawi said it was.

"It is a Herculean effort," he told Sky, adding that it was stretching but deliverable. He said that 1/4 of people over 80 years old had been vaccinated with their first shot.