PEOPLE in Britain aged 21 and over can now book their Covid vaccine. The news comes amid a reported shortage of the Pfizer shots which may slow down the vaccine drive while the latest figures show infections are falling steadily in Blackburn, England’s worst-affected council area.
Around one million people aged 21 and 22 will begin to be called forward on Wednesday (16) to book their coronavirus vaccine, as the vaccination programme expanded the age-based rollout to cover further younger categories, leaving only over-18s who are expected to be called by end of this week.
Urging people above 21 to get their shots, health secretary Matt Hancock said "we are almost at the final hurdle of offering life-saving jabs to all UK adults".
However, the supplies of the Pfizer jab to virus hotspots where Covid case rates are rising in younger age groups have been cut, as per a Telegraph report on Wednesday (16).
Citing a leaked letter, the report says that vaccine supplies are so short that NHS bosses at Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust have told staff and volunteers at the Derby Arena centre that they may not be needed to come into work “because of limited supplies”. The supply is expected to replenish in July, as per the report.
Meanwhile, the latest figures show that more than half of UK adults, over 30 million people, have had their second dose of the Covid vaccine, while almost four in five had been given a single dose.
The country has reported 7, 673 new cases and 10 new deaths with Blackburn, Lancashire and Greater Manchester continuing to be hotspots with relatively high numbers that are said to be driven by “60 per cent more transmissible” delta variant.
However, the rate of increase is now slowing down in Blackburn with Darwen indicating that the cases have peaked in the area. The area has England’s highest infection rate as per Public Health England figures.
“The support we have had in surge testing and extra vaccinations for over-18s over the last four weeks is having an impact,” a joint statement by Blackburn with Darwen council leaders said, adding that rate of increase is now slowing, and “we expect to see this improve until our case rates eventually plateau, and then begin to decline”.
However, the delta variant continues to smash Briton plans as it is now the dominant strain in several UK staycation hotspots, including Cornwall and Canterbury in Kent and Lancashire.
Since many favourite foreign destinations are on the amber or red list, more Britons are reportedly looking for places closer home for this summer. Cornwall- which was reportedly expecting 400,000 guests- and Lancashire- another popular summer destination with its rugged beauty and beaches- reportedly have more than 80 per cent delta variant cases.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)