HEALTH and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has praised the acceleration of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out – as the latest data released shows more than five million jabs have been administered across the UK.

In the South West, a total of 467,170 doses have been given to 415,087 people as part of the government’s plan to vaccinate the top four priority groups by mid-February.

The data covers seven health areas across the region, known as Integrated Care Systems (ICS) or Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (STP).

So far, a total of 98,234 doses have been administered in Devon, 79,743 in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, 68,693 in Dorset, 65,026 in Gloucestershire, 63,293 in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, 46,468 in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and 45,713 in Somerset.

The UK is leading the way with its vaccination programme.

So far, more than five million vaccinations have been administered to 4.6 million people – the fourth highest figure per capita in the world behind only Bahrain, the UAE and Israel.

Only two countries have administered more doses than the UK – China and the USA.

The government’s vaccine delivery plan is the biggest such programme in British history.

It sets out how the government aims to administer two million doses a week by the end of January, as well as offering vaccines to every elderly care home resident by the end of the month.

So far, more than half of those over 80 and care home residents have received a vaccine.

On top of this, the government is opening new vaccination sites every day to ensure everyone is within 10 miles of such a centre.

A total of 65 pharmacy sites are joining the programme this week and early next week, with more to come.

The latest to open include Arnold’s Pharmacy at Westward Ho! Baptist Church in North Devon, Locking Pharmacy in Weston-super-Mare, Wallisdown Pharmacy in Poole, The Grove Pharmacy in Christchurch, Boots in Gloucester and Superdrug in Broadmead, Bristol.

Mr Hancock said: “Vaccines are the way out of the pandemic and this historic roll-out will cover every corner of the country.

“Community pharmacists have been phenomenal and will have a pivotal role to play in the continued expansion of the programme.

“Through the UK vaccine delivery plan, over four million people have already received their jab.

“From hospitals to pharmacies, sports clubs to places of worship – we’re making sure the vaccine is as accessible as possible.

“In the meantime, it is vital everyone continues to play their part in this national effort by staying at home to protect the NHS.”