According to a target set by British Health Secretary Sajid Javid, all 16-, 17-year-olds in England are to be offered their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by August 23. On Sunday, Javid stated that providing the young people the vaccine by that date will allow the teenagers in that age bracket the two weeks needed for them to build their immunity before they return to school in September.
He stated, “I have asked the NHS in England to ensure they offer a first dose of the vaccine to everyone aged 16 and 17 by next Monday, August 23, this will make sure everybody has the opportunity to get the vital protection before returning to college or sixth form.”
Despite Britain suffering more than 130,000 deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government went ahead with easing COVID-19 restrictions in England due to the broad roll-out of vaccinations which Johnson started had broken the link between infections and subsequent hospitalisation and death.
