Mar 20, 2021 - World

Half of U.K. adults have had first coronavirus vaccine shot

Jacob Knutson

A vaccinators administering a coronavirus vaccine in medical center in Bridgeport, England. — A vaccinator administering a coronavirus vaccine in medical center in Bridgeport, England. Photo: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Image

Half of adults across the United Kingdom, roughly 26.8 million people, have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine as of Saturday, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Minister Matt Hancock.

Why it matters: The country administered a record 711,1oo doses on Friday and is fourth in the world for total population vaccinated, coming just behind Israel, United Arab Emirates and Chile, according to Reuters.

By the numbers: The U.K. reported more than 4,800 new cases and 100 deaths on Friday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

What they're saying: “The vaccine is a national success story and our way out of this pandemic,” Hancock said in a tweet.

The big picture: The country aims to administer one shot to every person over age 50 by April and one dose to every adult by the end of July, Reuters reports.

Johnson on Friday received his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine and said he "did not feel a thing."

Add Axios on Google

Half of U.K. adults have had first coronavirus vaccine shot

What to read next