LONDON — Over 70 percent of young people aged 18 to 29 in England have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the latest figures show, providing vital protection against infection and serious illness from the virus. A total of 5,940,038 people in this age group have received a first dose (70.2 percent) and 2,683,434 people have received both doses (32.4 percent), the UK government said in a press statement, The latest data from Public Health England and Cambridge University shows that vaccines have saved around 84,600 lives as well as preventing 23.4 million infections and 66,900 hospitalizations in England up to Aug. 6. A total of 87,184,438 doses have been administered in the UK, with 47,170,968 people receiving a first dose (89.2 percent) and 40,013,470 people receiving both doses (75.7 percent). Data from Public Health England (PHE) shows COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against hospitalisation from the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant, the dominant strain in the UK. The analysis shows the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 96 percent effective and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is 92 percent effective against hospitalisation after two doses. Commenting on the development, UK Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: "It's fantastic that 7 in 10 young people in England have now received their first dose. The vaccines are already making a big difference for this age group and are building a wall of defense against COVID-19 which is allowing us to safely live with this virus." "Vaccines can prevent you from catching the virus or passing it on to your friends and family, and reduce the severity of the symptoms if you do catch it." "Having both doses of the vaccine will also help you get back to doing the things you love, such as going on holiday and enjoying nightclubs. Please come forward for your jabs if you haven't already," he added. The UK government said it is working closely with the NHS to make it as easy as possible to get a vaccine, including through 'grab a jab' pop-up vaccine sites across the country, such as London-based nightclub Heaven, as well as football stadiums and festivals up and down the country.
