All adults in the UK could receive a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine by June if the pace of inoculations steps up to 4m a week from this month, according to the UK’s official economic forecaster.
The Office for Budget Responsibility said in economic forecasts published alongside the budget that government public health advisers were assuming vaccine supply could reach 4m a week from 25 April.
However, the OBR also highlighted a faster vaccination scenario. “If the rollout speed increased further to 4m a week from March onwards, all adults could receive their first dose by June,” it said.
That would be a month quicker than the government’s current pledge to offer a a first dose of a vaccine to all adults in the UK – about 53 million people – by the end of July. The OBR said that would be achievable at a rate of 3m jabs a week, taking in the requirement for second jabs 12 weeks after the first.
