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Infection prevention and control
Public health
Professional

COVID-19 vaccination in the UK: is it time to celebrate?

02 February 2021
Comment
02 February 2021
Volume 26 · Issue 2

Over a year on from the first reported case of COVID-19, the UK has reported 3.32 million confirmed cases, and 88 590 people have died within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test result (Public Health England (PHE), 2021).

The UK government has long claimed that vaccines are our best way out of this pandemic and towards a more normal way of life (Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), 2021), and, although 2020 has been described as a difficult year, the UK has the accolade of being the first country in the world to commence a programme of vaccination against COVID-19.

This article reflects on the options for vaccination in the UK now, the features and benefits of each product and the rollout experience in the UK. The learning to date is reviewed to identify what more needs to be secured here and across the world before the ambition of a more normal way of life can be realised.

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