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Covid vaccines have now saved over 100,000 lives in England

THE number of lives saved by Covid jabs smashed through the 100,000 barrier yesterday — as health chiefs were urged to get under-16s vaccinated this summer.

After Public Health England put the number of those saved at between 102,500 and 109,500, Sajid Javid called the achievement phenomenal.

BackGridFestival-goers descend on Reading and Leeds festival for a boozy weekend[/caption]

The Health Secretary added: “Vaccines are keeping people safe and helping us reclaim our freedoms.”

But as photos emerged of the first festival-goers getting their jabs at Reading and Leeds before a boozy weekend, sobering figures show under-30s are driving up cases across Britain.

Global Public Health professor Devi Sridhar has called for 12 to 15-year-olds to be jabbed.

She said of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises No 10: “They are being very cautious. They are waiting and watching but that costs time. We should be offering teens that vaccine before going back into schools.”

NHS bosses are readying to vaccinate younger teens but no official decision has been taken.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson stressed last night that under-16s would not be vaccinated without their parents’ consent.


Nearly three quarters of 18 to 29-year-olds have had their first vaccine and a Children’s Society survey found two out of three under-18s would get one.

Official stats saw another 38,281 cases counted in the UK yesterday — up five per cent in a week — along with 140 deaths, a 24 per cent rise.

Some 230,000 people got vaccines and 88 per cent of Brits have now had a single dose, with 78 per cent double-jabbed.

PHE data revealed the highest infection rate last week was in ten to 19-year-olds with 616.5 positive tests per 100,000 people.

Next were people in their 20s, with 541.2 per 100,000. The rate was lowest in over-80s, at 95.2.