People in their 40s next in line for vaccine

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have announced that people aged between 40 and 49 are to now be vaccinated.

This next phase of the vaccine rollout will prioritise people by age and not their occupation which has been a blow to teachers and police.

Scientific advisors have said the move will “provide the greatest benefit in the shortest time.”

The JCVI said the most effective way to prevent deaths and further hospital admissions is to prioritise vaccinating people by their age.

Vaccintating people by their occupation would be so complex which could slow down the the rollout and could leave the vulnerable at risk.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, COVID-19 chair for JCVI said, “Vaccinations stop people from dying and the current strategy is to prioritise those who are more likely to have severe outcomes and die from COVID-19. The evidence is clear that the risk of hospitalisation and death increases with age.

“The vaccination programme is a huge success and continuing the age-based rollout will provide the greatest benefit in the shortest time, including to those in occupations at a higher risk of exposure.”

A government spokesperson added, “All four parts of the UK will follow the recommended approach, subject to the final advice given by the independent expert committee.

“The UK government remains on course to meet its target to offer a vaccine to all those in the phase one priority groups by mid-April, and all adults by the end of July.”