COVID-19: UK reopens schools March 8 as vaccine programme meets first target

*The United Kingdom has passed its target to vaccinate about 15 million of its most vulnerable citizens against Coronavirus, thereby cementing a record of delivering one of the most successful immunisation programmes in the world

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

As the country’s vaccine programme is set to attain its set target of vaccinating almost 15 million of the most vulnerable citizens against the disruptive Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab has signalled that schools in England will be allowed to reopen from early March 2021.

On whether all schools will be allowed to open from March 8, Raab told Sky News that “we can feel confident that we will be able to start that process of getting schools open on the eighth.”

The United Kingdom (UK) has passed its target to vaccinate almost 15 million of its most vulnerable citizens against coronavirus, cementing a record of delivering one of the most successful immunisation programmes in the world, according to Bloomberg’s Vaccine Tracker.

Almost 22 percent of the population has been given a dose, with less than 1 percent getting two shots.

In the meantime, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson February 22 is due to announce his “road map” to unlock the country gradually over the months ahead.

Johnson had set the target at the start of this year with the aim of immunising everyone over the age of 70, along with people who live or work in care homes, health service workers and those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19.

These groups are estimated to account for about 88 percent of deaths from the disease in the UK.

Foreign Minister Raab stated: “I can tell you that we’re on track and we’re confident we will meet that target” by the February 15 goal.