Boris Johnson went hard on the success of the UK's world-beating vaccination programme again at #PMQs today.
We set out first, and ran the first laps faster than anyone else. But it's a marathon not a sprint.
Now, the UK is decidedly middling in terms of vaccine penetration.
We set out first, and ran the first laps faster than anyone else. But it's a marathon not a sprint.
Now, the UK is decidedly middling in terms of vaccine penetration.
The UK falls even down the European league table if you look at the share of the population that's been fully vaccinated (because we leave a longer gap between doses than most other countries do).
We're modestly ahead of other European countries on booster shots (NOT of the whole world, as Boris Johnson falsely claimed).
However, you have to consider that we began vaccinating earlier than any other country, so by definition we have the greatest number in need of boosting.
However, you have to consider that we began vaccinating earlier than any other country, so by definition we have the greatest number in need of boosting.
Finally, consider somewhere like Japan. (Which has twice the population of the UK.)
They only started a serious vaccination drive in May 2021. Before that, their vaccine coverage was less than 3% of the population, mainly health workers.
Now, they're far ahead of us.
They only started a serious vaccination drive in May 2021. Before that, their vaccine coverage was less than 3% of the population, mainly health workers.
Now, they're far ahead of us.
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