Britain on Sunday passed the milestone of vaccinating 20 million adults with two doses of the coronavirus vaccine, just a day before restrictions are lifted across most of the country.
Government statistics showed 20,103,658 million have received their two vaccine doses, or 38.2 per cent of the adult population.
And 36,573,354, or 69.4 per cent of the adult population, have received a first dose since the start of the UK's campaign on December 8.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the vaccine programme had made "extraordinary strides" in reaching the 20-million mark.
"Receiving a second dose is vital to ensure you have the ultimate protection from this deadly virus," Mr Hancock said.
He encouraged people to book their inoculation as soon as it was offered.
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said the development was "another incredible milestone".
"It is inspiring to see the incredible public response to our call to arms to get the inoculation," Mr Zahawi said.
"We have one the highest vaccine uptake rates in the world but our work is not done yet."
Britain, one of the first countries in the world to begin a mass Covid-19 vaccine campaign, chose to delay giving the second vaccine dose until 12 weeks after the first, instead of four weeks as was done in clinical trials.
On Monday, most of the UK will take a major step in reopening the economy, with restaurants and bars opening indoors and entertainment venues such as sports stadiums and cinemas reopening with some restrictions.
But the unlocking has coincided with the arrival of a more transmissible coronavirus variant from India.
To counter the new strain, the government said it would accelerate the introduction of second vaccines doses to over-50s and the clinically vulnerable, cutting the interval from the first inoculation to eight weeks.
Data from Public Health England shows the vaccines are already having a significant impact, saving more than 11,700 lives and preventing 33,000 hospital admissions in England by the end of April.
The government has said its goal is to give a first dose to all adults by the end of July.
More on coronavirus
UAE launches Covid-19 vaccination drive for refugees in Iraq and Jordan
India records fewer new Covid-19 cases, but daily death toll still above 4,000
Saudi Arabia says ‘no quarantine for vaccinated travellers’
Who are the Sacklers?
The Sackler family is a transatlantic dynasty that owns Purdue Pharma, which manufactures and markets OxyContin, one of the drugs at the centre of America's opioids crisis. The family is well known for their generous philanthropy towards the world's top cultural institutions, including Guggenheim Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate in Britain, Yale University and the Serpentine Gallery, to name a few. Two branches of the family control Purdue Pharma.
Isaac Sackler and Sophie Greenberg were Jewish immigrants who arrived in New York before the First World War. They had three sons. The first, Arthur, died before OxyContin was invented. The second, Mortimer, who died aged 93 in 2010, was a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma. The third, Raymond, died aged 97 in 2017 and was also a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma.
It was Arthur, a psychiatrist and pharmaceutical marketeer, who started the family business dynasty. He and his brothers bought a small company called Purdue Frederick; among their first products were laxatives and prescription earwax remover.
Arthur's branch of the family has not been involved in Purdue for many years and his daughter, Elizabeth, has spoken out against it, saying the company's role in America's drugs crisis is "morally abhorrent".
The lawsuits that were brought by the attorneys general of New York and Massachussetts named eight Sacklers. This includes Kathe, Mortimer, Richard, Jonathan and Ilene Sackler Lefcourt, who are all the children of either Mortimer or Raymond. Then there's Theresa Sackler, who is Mortimer senior's widow; Beverly, Raymond's widow; and David Sackler, Raymond's grandson.
Members of the Sackler family are rarely seen in public.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
|
1.
|
United States
|
|
2.
|
China
|
|
3.
|
UAE
|
|
4.
|
Japan
|
|
5
|
Norway
|
|
6.
|
Canada
|
|
7.
|
Singapore
|
|
8.
|
Australia
|
|
9.
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
10.
|
South Korea
|
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
