RCGP responds to ‘fantastic achievement’ of giving 15m people their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine

Responding to today’s news that 15m people have received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccination in the UK.

Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “The success of the Covid vaccination programme so far is down to the people delivering it. GPs and our teams - along with colleagues across the NHS - have been working incredibly hard, vaccinating our most vulnerable patients to protect them from Covid-19, and we’re hugely thankful for their efforts.

“Ensuring that 15m people have now received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine is a fantastic achievement, particularly in such a short space of time, and in the face of many logistical challenges and intense workload pressures.

“This milestone is cause for celebration- but the challenge continues, and GP teams are already preparing for the next phase of the vaccination programme, and will start inviting patients in the next priority group from tomorrow. We would encourage every patient who receives an invitation to come forward and get vaccinated - this will be vital in protecting the population from Covid-19 and helping to get life back to normal.”

Further information

(For media only)

RCGP Press office – 020 3188 7633/7494/7574

Out of hours: 0203 188 7659 

press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editor

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 52,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.