Minister warns against complacency as vaccinations top over 300,000.
Health Minister Robin Swann has welcomed the continuing progress on Covid-19 vaccination, with the number of vaccines administered in Northern Ireland climbing past the 300,000 mark.
The latest province-wide total stands at 301,279, comprising 275,232 first doses and 26,047 second doses.
The Minister again warned that the progress of the vaccination programme must not give rise to any complacency in the battle against the virus.
“I am very grateful to all those who are working tirelessly to keep the vaccination programme on track.
“There has likewise been a massive collective effort across Northern Ireland to stop the virus spreading. We have to maintain and accelerate the progress that has been made.
“I know it’s tough, I know we all want this to be over. But we need to stick to the course in this vital period.
“The more we push down infection rates, the more we can ease pressures on our hospitals and build a solid foundation for better times. There can be no shortcuts, no rush to any exit door from this pandemic.
“I would also strongly urge those that have been vaccinated to continue to follow the public health advice as they did before. xa0It can take several weeks to build immunity and the added reassurance of protection against the virus is not the same as invincibility.
“The vaccination programme gives us hope that the sacrifices we are making will be worth it.
“Let’s stick together and keep taking all those steps that we know will keep each other safe.”
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Northern Ireland is administering the AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines in line with the approvals issued by the regulator, the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Both vaccines have been approved by the MHRA for the entire adult population after a full and rigorous review of all data on safety, effectiveness and quality.
Data on both vaccines demonstrate they are safe and provide high levels of protection against Covid-19, particularly against severe disease.
The EU drugs regulator, the European Medicines Agency, has also approved the AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for all adult age groups.
