UK  covid vaccinations save 13,000 lives 40,000 hospitalizations

Two doses of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine provide about 85% to 90% protection against symptomatic conditions, according to statistics published this Thursday, May 20 by Public Health England.

The health body estimated that 13,000 deaths had been prevented in England as of May 9 in people aged 60 and over.

It also suggested that vaccination has prevented nearly 40,000 hospitalizations among people over 65, a crucial move in a country where the National Health Service (NHS) has struggled to contain the highest death toll from the pandemic in Europe.

“This new data shows that the vaccine saves lives and protects from ending up in the hospital with Covid-19,” Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in a statement. “With the threat of new variants, getting vaccinated is more important than ever.”

The UK, which has completed vaccinating nearly a third of its population, has focused on giving as many people the first dose as possible, extending the interval between doses to up to 12 weeks.