By Government “confident” everyone in UK will get second Covid-19 vaccine within 12 weeks
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has said the government is “confident” that everyone in the UK will get their second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine within 12 weeks of their first jab.
Dowden told the BBC’s Andrew Marr earlier today that it was “essential” to provide second doses and it would not require the mixing of vaccines.
When he was questioned about the concerns on vaccine supply, Dowden said he “always knew there would be ups and downs” but that the vaccination timetable is on track.
He added that the Moderna jab is due to arrive in the UK next month.
Up to now, 29 million adults in the UK have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, but issues with vaccine supply have made the rollout somewhat bumpy.
Earlier this month, there were fears over supply after the NHS warned of a reduction in jabs available in England in April.
Not only this, but there has been a delay in shipments of the AstraZeneca vaccine from India.
Mr Dowden told the BBC today: “You will have seen the ups and downs – we were surging ahead a couple of weeks ago, there’s been a bit of a slowdown now.
“But that doesn’t undermine our confidence that we will be able to deliver for that crucial group, the over-50s, by the middle of April and then for the rest of the adult population by the end of July.”
When asked whether there will be enough supply for everyone to get their second dose, Mr Dowden said: “That is absolutely essential and in all our planning throughout this, we have borne in mind that we have to get that second top-up and so we’re confident we will be able to deliver it.”
