First jabs offered to all aged 16 and 17 as new term looms

EVERY 16 and 17-year-old in England will have been offered their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine by next week, the Government has pledged.

- David Williamson

As part of a drive to ramp up protection before schools return, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has set August 23 as the date by which everyone in this age group will have had the chance for a jab.

The announcement comes as Carrie Johnson urged pregnant women to get vaccinated.

The Prime Minister’s wife posted a selfie on Instagram and said she was “feeling great” after having her jab.

Mrs Johnson, who is pregnant with the couple’s second child and also suffered a miscarriage earlier this year, sought to calm anxieties about vaccinations.

She said: “I know there are lots of pregnant women who are anxious about getting their Covid vaccine but the evidence is incredibly reassuring. Most importantly, the data shows there is no increased risk of miscarriage, something I was definitely concerned about.