Ricky Gervais, 59, shares photo on Twitter as he gets Covid-19 vaccine

Ricky Gervais confirmed he received the Covid-19 vaccine on Thursday as he shared a picture with a needle planted in his arm to Twitter

The comedian, 59, furrowed his brow as he received the jab, but did not specify which type of vaccine he received. 

He sported a black ensemble and face mask for the snap which he captioned: ‘Take that, you COVID ****!’ 

‘Take that, you COVID ****!’ Ricky Gervais confirmed he received the Covid-19 vaccine on Thursday as he shared a picture with a needle planted in his arm to Twitter

The star wore an all-black ensemble and a face mask as he received the vaccine – the latest in a string of stars who have been  jabbed this week. 

Meanwhile, This Morning host Phillip Schofield, 58, said he was ‘painlessly jabbed up’ as he shared a photo on Tuesday receiving the Covid-19 Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine.

Fellow morning TV host Lorraine Kelly, 61, received an Oxford/ AstraZeneca injection on Sunday, taking to Twitter to share the milestone moment.

McMafia star James Norton, 35, who suffers from Type 1 diabetes, said he was ‘happy and relieved’ to have received the Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine. 

The recommended dosage for Oxford/ AstraZeneca is two doses to be administered with an interval of 8 to 12 weeks. 

Staying safe: The comedian, 59, furrowed his brow as he received the jab, but did not specify which type of vaccine he received (pictured in January last year)

Staying safe: The comedian, 59, furrowed his brow as he received the jab, but did not specify which type of vaccine he received (pictured in January last year) 

Protection: Phillip Schofield shared a photo on Tuesday receiving the Covid-19 Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine while thanking the medical team for administering the 'painless jab'

Protection: Phillip Schofield shared a photo on Tuesday receiving the Covid-19 Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine while thanking the medical team for administering the ‘painless jab’

The makers of the three vaccines, AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna, that the MHRA has approved for use so far, have all said they are aiming to modify their jabs to cope with variants of coronavirus this year. 

AstraZeneca, the maker of the Oxford vaccine, said it hopes its new vaccine will be ready by autumn.

MHRA chief executive Dr June Raine said there is no evidence that current vaccines are lacking effectiveness against known coronavirus variants.

She said: ‘Since December last year we have all been concerned about the appearance of variants – Kent, South Africa, more recently Brazil – and therefore we’re well-prepared to look at, when it’s needed, updates to ensure the vaccines being used in citizens are fully effective.

Jabbed: Fellow morning TV host Lorraine Kelly, 61, received an Oxford/ AstraZeneca injection on Sunday, taking to Twitter to share the milestone moment

Jabbed: Fellow morning TV host Lorraine Kelly, 61, received an Oxford/ AstraZeneca injection on Sunday, taking to Twitter to share the milestone moment

Vaccinated: McMafia star James Norton, 35, who suffers from Type 1 diabetes, said he was 'happy and relieved' to have received the Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine

Vaccinated: McMafia star James Norton, 35, who suffers from Type 1 diabetes, said he was ‘happy and relieved’ to have received the Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine

‘Our goal is to ensure the vaccine modifications in future that respond to the new variants can be available in the shortest possible time but without compromising in any way on safety, on quality and on effectiveness.

‘What I would emphasise at the outset is that we don’t have evidence at the moment that the vaccines in use in the UK are significantly lacking in effectiveness but we are now well-prepared.’

Britain’s vaccine drive is gathering pace, with Matt Hancock revealing on Friday that two in five adults have now been vaccinated as deaths fall ‘faster and faster’.

Some 21.3million people have received their first dose, and the historic rollout means deaths have plummeted by 41 per cent in a week.

The Health Secretary said: ‘You can really see the effects of the vaccine in the number of deaths.

Staying safe: The recommended dosage for Oxford/ AstraZeneca is two doses to be administered with an interval of 8 to 12 weeks

Staying safe: The recommended dosage for Oxford/ AstraZeneca is two doses to be administered with an interval of 8 to 12 weeks

‘That link from cases to hospitalisations and then deaths that had been unbreakable before the vaccine is now breaking.

‘The vaccine is protecting the NHS and saving lives, right across the country.’

The positive figures on Friday led to fresh speculation about the lifting of the lockdown, and whether the roadmap could be accelerated.

Ministers have repeatedly insisted the timetable will not be sped up, but with each week of positive data the pressure is increasing for a swifter end to the restrictions.

More than one million people have now received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine, meaning 2 per cent of UK adults are fully vaccinated.

Progress: Britain's vaccine drive is gathering pace, with Matt Hancock revealing on Friday that two in five adults have now been vaccinated as deaths fall 'faster and faster'

Progress: Britain’s vaccine drive is gathering pace, with Matt Hancock revealing on Friday that two in five adults have now been vaccinated as deaths fall ‘faster and faster’