PRINCE William has hailed the “monumental” effort made by NHS vaccine heroes — and says he is “proud” the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have had their jabs.
It comes as 3,559,179 have now had at least one dose — more than the 3,357,361 who have tested positive during the entire pandemic.
William praised the army of people “moving mountains” in the inoculation drive.
The Duke of Cambridge, 38, held a video call with some of the doctors, nurses and volunteers helping in Britain’s biggest ever vaccination programme.
Boris Johnson also last night hailed the national effort.
The PM said: “We’ve given over 3.5million vaccine doses to protect against Covid-19, with over 324,000 doses yesterday alone.
“Thank you to everyone who is helping in this fantastic national effort. Help our NHS by staying at home to save lives.”
Around 1,000 GP-led surgeries and more than 250 hospitals are providing jabs alongside seven large vaccination centres.
Ten more will open this week, it was revealed yesterday, and anyone living within a 45- minute drive will be invited to book an appointment.
Stats yesterday showed 324,000 more jabs were administered in the previous 24 hours, the highest yet. Of the over-80s, some 45 per cent have been inoculated.
Among them are William’s grandparents, the Queen, 94, and her husband Philip, 99.
A doctor with the Royal Household administered their first doses at Windsor last Saturday.
Sources said that the royals “waited in line” until the vaccine — believed to be the Oxford/AstraZeneca — was available to medical services in the region.
‘LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL’
William said on the video call: “My grandparents have had the vaccine and I am very proud of them for doing that.
“It is really important that everyone gets the vaccine when they are told to.”
Nikki Kanani, Medical Director of Primary Care for NHS England and NHS Improvement, outlined the scale of the inoculation drive to the prince.
She explained jabs were available at more than 1,000 sites, adding: “It has been an incredible piece of work between doctors, nurses, pharmacists, volunteers, admin staff, reception staff, people just pulling out the stops to do something incredibly difficult.”
William said: “Huge congratulations to everyone involved in the vaccination programme because it looks tremendous.
“I know what a massive difference it is going to make to everyone.
“This isn’t something that happens really easy . . . it is because we have a world-leading NHS and we have the right people, the right research and development.
“There is a big UK story here to tell. It’s a hugely proud moment for the NHS and the UK being able to achieve such a massive task. It’s nice to have light at the end of the tunnel.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday urged everyone to help by ensuring elderly relatives and friends get to appointments.
Dr Matthew Duchars, boss of the £158million Vaccines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, said all Brits could be jabbed fast when the Oxfordshire facility opens this year.
