The data was released after Boris Johnson said that nearly 800,000 people had been vaccinated.

DHSC data showed that 616,933 people received an injection between December 8 and 20.

These consisted of 521,594 people in England, 56,676 in Scotland, 22595 in Wales and 16,068 in Northern Ireland.

The figures regarding the number of people who have received the Covid-19 vaccine in the UK will now be published on a weekly basis.

The Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, the only vaccine currently approved for use in the UK, has been given to people of highest priority – including nursing home residents, those over the age of 80, and health and social care workers – at more than 500 locations worldwide. . United kingdom.

Matt Hancock, Minister of Health, said in a statement: “In just over three weeks, the NHS in every part of the UK has already set up hundreds of vaccination sites to ensure those in need get an injection as quickly as possible.

“This is just the beginning and we are constantly working to expand our vaccination program to help everyone return to normal in the future.”

Vaccinations will continue through Christmas with the expectation that the vaccination rate will increase as more doses become available.

At a press conference on December 24, Mr. Hancock revealed that the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine had been submitted for approval, raising hopes that more vaccines would be available to the population and that they would be speeded up.

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Unlike the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine can be contained at normal refrigerator temperature. Both vaccines require two doses, administered for 21 days with the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine, compared to 28 days with the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine.

Additional reporting by the PA