By Covid deaths in UK are down by a quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics.
New data show both Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines significantly reduce severe COVID-19 in older adults.
In the over 80s, data suggest that a single dose of either vaccine is more than 80% effective at preventing hospitalisation, around 3 to 4 weeks after the jab. There is also evidence for the Pfizer vaccine, which suggests it leads to an 83% reduction in deaths from COVID-19.
The new analysis adds to growing evidence that the vaccines are working and are highly effective in protecting people against severe illness, hospitalisation and death.
Public Health England have announced that on 1 March, there were 5,455 new Covid cases and 104 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported across the UK.
A total of 20,275,451 people have now received the first dose of a vaccine.
Health officials are still trying to trace one person infected with a concerning coronavirus variant first found in Brazil.
The person is understood to have used a home testing kit but did not complete a registration form, prompting an appeal for anyone without a result from a test on 12 or 13 February to come forward.
Dr Mary Ramsay, PHE Head of Immunisation, said:
“This adds to growing evidence showing that the vaccines are working to reduce infections and save lives.
“While there remains much more data to follow, this is encouraging and we are increasingly confident that vaccines are making a real difference.
“It is important to remember that protection is not complete and we don’t yet know how much these vaccines will reduce the risk of you passing COVID-19 onto others.
“Even if you have been vaccinated, it is it is really important that you continue to act like you have the virus, practise good hand hygiene and stay at home.”
