- The UK has “increasing confidence” that Covid-19 vaccines work against the Indian variant of the virus, the health secretary has said.
- Scientists believe that the variant is more transmissible and cases of it nearly tripled to 1,313 in the past week in England.
- But Matt Hancock said early lab data showed vaccines remained effective.
- He said the majority of those in hospital in Bolton – a hotspot for the Indian variant – were unvaccinated.
A recent news article published in the BBC by Doug Faulkner reveals that increasing confidence jabs work against Indian variant.
20 million people in the UK
More than 20 million people in the UK have now had two doses of a coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest government figures.
Mr Hancock welcomed the new milestone as “great news” and said the UK was making “extraordinary strides” as millions now have the fullest possible protection against the virus.
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, the health secretary said that the Indian variant, known as B.1.617.2, was “relatively widespread in small numbers” in most of the country.
Stage 3 of government’s roadmap
It comes as England is due to move to stage three of the government’s roadmap for easing lockdown on Monday, with socialising in groups of six indoors as well as some international travel to be allowed.
On Friday Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the variant could pose “serious disruption” to the final stage of lockdown easing in England on 21 June.
Mr Hancock said that it was “quite likely” that the variant would become the dominant strain in the UK.
He said: “What that reinforces is the importance of people coming forward for testing and being careful because this isn’t over yet.”
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Source: BBC
