UK vaccination program starting to show results

London, Feb 16 (efe-epa).- The effects of the mass coronavirus vaccination program that began in early December are starting to be felt in the United Kingdom, especially among the elderly, according to a report published on Tuesday by the British Office for National Statistics (ONS).

One in five people in England tested positive for coronavirus antibodies in a blood test in the 28 days prior to February 1, with the proportion increasing in over-80s, who started receiving injections earlier than the rest of the population.

In the public agency’s previous monthly report, one in eight people in England had antibodies.

“Antibody positivity rates have increased across all four nations and the effects of the vaccination programs have begun to appear, especially in the older age groups,” Esther Sutherland, the head of the agency’s covid-19 statistics team, said.

The ONS pointed out that part of this growth in immunity can also be explained by high infection levels in recent months.

A peak of 68,053 daily infections was reached in early January, although that number has since declined, with 10,625 new cases reported on Tuesday.

The British government is expected to announce a gradual easing of the national lockdown next week. EFE

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