COVID-19: Oxford vaccination programme begins in Northern Ireland
Last updated 4th Jan 2021
The roll-out of a second covid-19 vaccination programme begins today (Monday) across Northern Ireland.
GP practices will administer the first jabs of the new Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
A batch of 50,000 doses has been allocated.
Those aged over 80 will be prioritised initially.
Northern Ireland has moved to accelerate delivery of the injections as a spike in cases continues.
The new and more infectious variant of Covid-19 has been detected in Northern Ireland.
The number of coronavirus infections has increased rapidly.
Chief medical officers across the UK have decided to delay delivery of the second shot of vaccines.
The intention is that the maximum number of people receive their first jab, with its partial protection, as quickly as possible to help step the tide of cases which threatens to overwhelm the health service.
Makers say they aim to deliver two million doses each week by the middle of January.
Brian Pinker (82) became the first person in the UK to receive the jab this morning.
Mr Pinker is a patient at Churchill hospital in Oxford where he is on dialysis for kidney disease.
Meanwhile, Pfizer revealed 21 UK batches have been shipped since it was approved last month.
Northern Ireland is in the second week of a six-week lockdown in which non-essential retail is closed.
The country has recorded a further 1,662 cases of Covid-19.
A total of 11,810 people have tested positive in the last seven days, the Department of Health said on Sunday.
Another six people have died.