AROUND 60,000 deaths have been prevented in England as a result of the Covid vaccine program, the deputy chief medical officer has said.
Prof Jonathan Van-Tam said an estimated 22 million cases have also been stopped – a “truly massive” success.
His comments came in a special program with Radio 1 Newsbeat listeners, including some who are worried about getting a job.
He said the more people get a jab, the less likely more lockdowns are.
The chances of another lockdown will be “much lower” if a higher proportion of the population, including 18-25-year-olds, get their jabs, he said.
Nearly a third of young adults in England – about 2.7 million – have not had a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, NHS England figures show.
Some 68.1% of people aged 18 to 29 had received the first dose by 25 July, according to estimates, meaning 31.9% are likely to not be jabbed.
Prof Van-Tam also said he can’t know yet if there will be a fourth wave of Covid infections in the UK.
He disputed a claim made to a newspaper by a senior minister earlier this week that Covid was “all over bar the shouting”, after a recent sharp drop in cases.
Prof Van-Tam said: “I wish it were so. This is not ‘all over bar the shouting.
“I hope the worst is behind us but I think it’s quite possible that we’re going to have one or two bumpy periods in the autumn and in the winter, not only through Covid but also through flu and other respiratory viruses as well.”
The estimate of 60,000 deaths avoided because of the vaccine, mentioned by Prof Van-Tam, comes from Public Health England (PHE), and was published shortly after he shared it with Newsbeat.