Covid: Three quarters of UK adults have now had first dose of vaccine

More than 75% of UK adults have had at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, marking a huge milestone in the coronavirus jab rollout.

The milestone was reached less than six months after the rollout started, and comes the day after no deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 were reported for the first time since July 30 last year.

It was also announced that 50% of adults in England had received both doses.

A total of 39,585,665 first doses have now been delivered since the vaccination rollout began almost six months ago.

This is the equivalent of 75.2% of all people aged 18 and over.

Debate is continuing over whether the final stages of unlocking restrictions in England can go ahead on June 21, due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus variant first identified in India.

Boris Johnson says data still ‘ambiguous’

Boris Johnson said on Wednesday (2 June) that there was “nothing in the data at the moment that means we can’t go ahead” with the next stage.

But he warned: “We’ve got to be so cautious because there’s no question, the ONS data of infection rates is showing an increase.

The Prime Minister said: “We always knew that was going to happen, don’t forget, we always said that the unlocking steps that we’ve taken would lead to increases in infection.

“What we need to work out is to what extent the vaccination programme has protected enough of us, particularly the elderly and vulnerable, against a new surge.

“And there, I’m afraid, the data is just still ambiguous.”

However a reduction in deaths reported, and vaccine success, may give ministers the confidence to go ahead with easing restrictions.

Additional reporting by PA.