Vaccination against COVID-19 commenced in England on 8 December 2020, initially using the Pfizer BioNTech mRNA vaccine. The AstraZeneca vaccine was then added to the programme from 4 January 2021.
The target groups for vaccination followed the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) prioritisation (1) and so residents and staff of care homes for the elderly, individuals over the age of 80 years and health and social care workers were the first to receive vaccination, initially through hospital hubs.
Vaccination then became available through mass vaccination centres, local vaccination centres run by primary care networks, and general practices and pharmacies. Roving delivery to care homes commenced from the 14 December. Extension of the programme to those aged over 75 and then 70 years, plus individuals in the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable group followed. By 15 February 2021, everyone in these priority groups had been offered the first dose of vaccination.
Ref: PHE publications gateway number: GW-1970
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