Public Health England estimates that the coronavirus vaccination programme has prevented about 39,700 hospitalisations and 13,200 in people aged 60 years or older up to the middle of May.
The method for analysing the approximate number of deaths and hospitalisations prevented by the vaccine programme now takes into account the impact of both first and second doses, due to more data being available.
However, it does not include the impact of vaccination on transmission, therefore the true impact of the vaccination programme is likely to be even greater.
An updated analysis including nearly 3,000 symptomatic cases of B.1.617.2 provides further confidence that 2 doses of either vaccine are highly effective against the variant first identified in India.
Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, consultant epidemiologist at PHE, said: “This analysis gives further confidence that 2 doses of the vaccine provide vital protection against the variants in circulation in the UK, so it is important to book your second jab when invited to gain maximum protection.
“The vaccines are very safe and very effective, and they will protect you and those around you from becoming seriously ill.”
