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Vaccine: More Than Half Of UK Adult Population Has First Dose

More than half the UK’s adult population has now received a first COVID vaccine dose, the health secretary has said.

"I'm delighted to be able to say that we've now vaccinated HALF of all adults in the UK," Matt Hancock tweeted.

"The vaccine is a national success story and our way out of this pandemic."

The midway point of the UK's stated aim to vaccinate the whole adult population against COVID-19 by the end of July was passed in the last 24 hours.

It means Britain and Northern Ireland are just over five million short of their second target - vaccinating the first nine priority groups by the 15 April. Current progress means that the target will be achieved ahead of time.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set a target of offering a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to everyone aged 18 or over in the UK by the end of July 2021.

He made the pledge after the NHS met its first target of vaccinating everyone in the first four priority groups, some 15 million people, by mid February.

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