Covid Northern Ireland: Vaccine roll-out expanded to over-45s

Northern Ireland expands Covid jab roll-out to over-45s – even though UK is facing supply shortage that will see April become a ‘second dose month’

  • Northern Ireland becomes first home nation to offer jab to people under 50
  • Comes despite country’s jab rollout trailing behind rest of UK at 39 per cent
  • Government also expecting supply shortages next month due to holdup in India

Northern Ireland has today officially expanded its coronavirus vaccine rollout to people under the age of 50, becoming the first home nation to do so.

The country’s NHS is now inviting everyone over 45 to book their appointment at a vaccination centre or one of 350 pharmacies deploying the jabs. 

Confirming the latest expansion, Northern Irish Health Minister Robin Swann said: ‘I would encourage everyone who is eligible to get the jab as soon as possible.

The 49-year-old added: ‘I have something of an interest to declare with today’s announcement as I fall into the 45-49 age group. I am looking forward to getting my jab very shortly.’

It comes despite the fact a shortfall of five million AstraZeneca jabs from India means Britain will face supply shortages in April.

Britons were told the holdup meant the jab scheme would need to focus on meeting second dose windows next month and reaching unvaccinated over-50s. 

It killed off the UK Government’s ambition of having all Britons over 40 invited for their first dose by Easter. But people in that age group could start to be invited by mid-April, when ministers are expecting half a million doses of the US-made Moderna jab to arrive. 

A Department of Health source told MailOnline the devolved nations had been given their doses according to a ‘set schedule’ and that it was up to their governments to decide who they give them to. 

Northern Ireland also lags behind the other nations in the UK in terms of percentage of the population vaccinated, adding to confusion about why the nation been able to expand its programme first.

Northern Ireland has today officially expanded its coronavirus vaccine rollout to people under the age of 50, becoming the first home nation to do so. Pictured, a vaccine centre in Belfast

Confirming the latest expansion, Northern Irish Health Minister Robin Swann said: 'I would encourage everyone who is eligible to get the jab as soon as possible'

Confirming the latest expansion, Northern Irish Health Minister Robin Swann said: ‘I would encourage everyone who is eligible to get the jab as soon as possible’

As of Tuesday, 740,729 people in Northern Ireland had received one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine – about 39 per cent of its total population. 

England is leading the way at 46 per cent, followed by 44 per cent in Scotland and 45 per cent in Wales.

Only people over 50 are officially being invited for their vaccines in the rest of the home nations, but some GP surgeries where uptake is high have been allowed to invite younger age groups. 

Meanwhile, data shows that Covid deaths among the over-70s across the UK have plunged by 97 per cent in ten weeks thanks to the vaccine rollout.

In the past week there has been an average of just 32 daily deaths in the over-70s. 

At the peak of the crisis in mid-January, deaths among this age group had topped 1,000 a day in England.

In the week of January 15, there were an average of 698 daily deaths in the over-80s and 266 a day among people in their 70s.  

Yet last Thursday – the most recent day with complete data – only seven people in their 70s and 15 over-80s died from Covid.

Yesterday another 56 deaths and 4,040 cases were recorded around the UK.

Nine in ten pensioners, and 54 per cent of the entire population, now have antibodies to fight off Covid.

Analysis of death rates show they have fallen most rapidly among groups which have been vaccinated. 

Less than half of all deaths are now in the over-80s, compared to nearly two-thirds before the vaccine was rolled out.

Data covering the week up to March 19 shows that deaths fell by 44 per cent among those in their 50s. 

This compares to a 28 per cent drop among those under-50, most of whom are still waiting for their jabs.  

HOW ARE JAB ROLLOUTS GOING ACROSS THE UK? 

Northern Ireland

Vaccines administered:  740,729 first and 132,022 second doses

Percentage of population vaccinated: 39%

Who is being invited for a jab? Everyone over 45

England 

Vaccines administered:  26.1million first and 2.9m second doses

Percentage of population vaccinated: 46%

Who is being invited for a jab? Everyone over 50

Scotland 

Vaccines administered:  2.4m first and 338,443 second doses

Percentage of population vaccinated: 44%

Who is being invited for a jab? Everyone over 50

Wales 

Vaccines administered:  1.4m first and 424,016 second doses

Percentage of population vaccinated: 45%

Who is being invited for a jab? Everyone over 50