Thanks to the heroic efforts of our NHS, armed forces and countless volunteers, we are now approaching the final stretch in our race to vaccinate and are urging every adult to get their jabs as soon as possible to make sure they are fully protected – so when you get the call, get the jab. We have administered a total of over 77 million vaccine doses across the UK, with over 44.4 million people across the UK now having received their first dose and over 32.5 million people having received their second dose.

The evidence is clear that two doses are effective in protecting against the Delta variant – meaning that you are less likely to get COVID-19 symptoms, die from the disease, or pass it on to your family and friends. That is why we are urging everyone to come forward and get both doses, so we can build on the continued success of our historic vaccine programme – which has seen more than three in five adults receive a second life-saving dose and almost half of 25-29 year olds receive a first dose so far as part of this remarkable national effort to protect the country.

Latest modelling analysis from Public Health England (PHE) and the University of Cambridge’s MRC Biostatistics Unit suggests that the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme has so far prevented an estimated 7.2 million infections and 27,000 deaths in England alone.

This is the first analysis giving an estimated number of vaccine-prevented infections, providing further evidence of the staggering impact of the vaccination programme so far. For more information on the new analysis suggests the vaccination programme has prevented between 6.4 and 7.9 million infections and 26,000 and 28,000 deaths in England alone, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/covid-19-vaccines-have-prevented-7-2-million-infections-and-27-000-deaths.

.The case for getting vaccinated is clear, so we are urging everyone when you get the call, get the jab, so together we can keep each other and our loved ones safe.

The UK led the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and now the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is protecting millions of people around the world.

Adult social care given over £250 million extra to continue coronavirus (COVID-19) protections

Yesterday, the Government made an extra £250 million available to adult social care services to meet the costs of infection control and testing so they can continue to protect those they look after and their staff from the virus.

Throughout the pandemic, the Government has been doing everything we can to stop the spread of COVID-19 in care homes so we can keep staff and residents safe from this cruel virus. That is why the Government is providing an additional £250 million through our Infection Control and Testing Fund to help care homes and providers meet the costs of implementing infection prevention measures and testing until the end of September – bringing our total support for social care to £2 billion.

By giving our social care the resources and funding it needs to control the virus, we can continue to protect staff and residents while allowing our care homes to deliver world-class care.

For more information on the Government’s announcement that of over a quarter of a billion will be given to extend adult social care coronavirus (COVID-19) support beyond June, including what the Infection Control Funding will be used to for, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/adult-social-care-given-over-250-million-extra-to-continue-coronavirus-covid-19-protections.

Transport Secretary announces measures to continue cautiously reopening international travel in a safe and sustainable way

On Friday, the Government announced our plans to cautiously reopen international travel in a safe and sustainable way that protects our vaccine rollout.

The Government has put some of the strictest measures in the world in place at our borders, but thanks to the success of our vaccine programme we are able to move forwards with efforts to safely reopen international travel this summer. That is why the Government is adding Malta, Madeira, the Balearic Islands, several UK overseas territories and Caribbean islands to the green list, meaning people can travel there without having to quarantine on their return. All but Malta are also joining the green watchlist, signalling they are at risk of moving from green to amber, giving people the full picture before they decide to travel.

In recognition of our successful domestic vaccination programme, our intention is that later in the summer people who are fully vaccinated will not have to quarantine when travelling from amber list countries. We expect this to occur in phases, starting with UK residents. They will still be required to take a pre-departure test and a test on day 2, and any positive results will be sequenced to continue to manage the risk of importing variants.

At the same time, we intend to remove the guidance that people should not travel to amber countries. Pending decisions on whether under-18s should routinely be offered vaccination, we will also take clinical advice on whether regular testing can provide a safe alternative to quarantine for children accompanied by vaccinated adults.

Further detail will be set out next month including the rules which will apply to children and those unable to be vaccinated, how we will operationalise this approach at the border, and the dates on which these changes will come into effect.

Until these measures are introduced, all passengers, whether vaccinated or not, must continue to abide by quarantine rules for returning to the UK from an amber list country, and it is recommended that people should not travel to amber list countries at the moment. Individuals who fail to comply with their legal duty to quarantine at home following international travel can be fined £1,000, increasing up to £10,000 for repeat offences.

This announcement shows real signs of progress, but we must continue to take a cautious approach to protect public health and not put the success of the vaccine programme and the efforts of people across the country at risk as we move closer to normality. For more information on the Government’s latest UK travel update, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-travel-update-malta-added-to-green-list-and-green-watchlist-extended-as-plans-for-quarantine-free-travel-for-fully-vaccinated-passengers-from-ambe.

Armed Forces thanked for their work in supporting the national fight against the virus

Yesterday the Prime Minister marked Armed Forces Day by thanking our servicemen and women for their work supporting the national fight against the virus, while keeping us safe at home and abroad.

The Government is immensely proud that the UK is defended by without doubt the finest armed services you’ll find anywhere in the world. Our fantastic men and women in uniform are the best trained, the best led, the most dedicated bunch of people you will ever meet.

This year we have witnessed the full breadth of what the Armed Forces can do – from being on the frontline in our fight against COVID to work fighting terrorism, delivering aid and flying the flag for the UK internationally. This Armed Forces Day, on behalf of the nation, the Government wants to say a huge thank you for everything you do. We owe you more than we can ever say.

Over the last year our Armed Forces have been working around the world, in the UK personnel from all three Services stepped up to support the UK’s response to the pandemic. Elsewhere our Armed Forces have been promoting peace, delivering aid, tackling drug smugglers, training our allies and fighting terrorism.