JUST a single dose of the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccine gives under 40s "high protection" from the virus, experts have today revealed.
New findings show that one dose of Pfizer is 61 per cent effective against symptomatic disease while one dose of Moderna is 72 per cent effective.
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Experts also found that two doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab provides 94 per cent protection against death from Covid-19 in people aged 65 and over.
Across the country millions of Brits have now had both a first and second dose of a vaccine with 44.7 million having had a first dose and 32.8 million now having had a second.
The government's goal is to give every adult one jab by July 19, when the country is set to reopen, with the remaining Covid restrictions being lifted.
The data from Public Health England (PHE) is the first which determines how effective the jab is for younger age groups.
The Pfizer/BioNTech jab was the first to be rolled out across the UK.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna jabs were offered to those under 40 on May 10.
In line with advice from the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) those under the age of 40 were offered these jabs after the group heeded caution on giving under 40s the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab after it was linked to rare blood clots.
The report also highlights that the vaccination programme has so far prevented an estimated 7.2 million infections and 27,000 deaths in England alone.
This is based on modelling analysis from PHE and Cambridge University’s MRC Biostatistics Unit, PHE said.
Vaccine stats released today show that 85 per cent of adults in England have now received one dose of the jab.
Everyone over the age of 18 is now invited to come and get their first dose and there is a huge drive underway to get those who had had their first dose, fully vaccinted.
The most vulnerable in the country are expected to be invited back for a third dose in September and parents should find out in the coming weeks whether or not their kids will be having a jab.
NHS England lead for the NHS Vaccination Programme, Dr Emily Lawson, said: "The vaccine is our best defence against coronavirus and it is so important to get the extra protection that a second dose gives, which is why it is so good that more than 9 in 10 of over 50s have had both jabs.
"My message to those who have yet to be vaccinated remains clear: the offer is evergreen, so if you are aged 18 or over, please come forward and get protected, and if you are asked to move your second dose forward to eight weeks, please do so.”
Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, Consultant Epidemiologist at PHE said that today's data from PHE gives even more confidence that vaccines offer high levels of protection in all age groups.
“Getting 2 doses of the vaccine is absolutely vital to protect you and others against the variants in circulation in the UK. Remember that you must book your second jab when invited, to gain maximum protection.
“The vaccines are very safe and very effective, and they will protect you and those around you from becoming seriously ill", he added.
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