![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VTN5E723YLS3G2EMEAXFUGUF7E.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b2f02c7a2f4782e2eca43ecca7cdb89e77db05a48faa3856b34b155188e6665&width=400&height=225)
A health worker administers the Covid-19 vaccine inside a former nightclub that has been turned into a NHS vaccine centre in Batchwood Hall, St Albans, Britain, January 15, 2021. File photo / Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4FGT5AC5LTWULYE3PZZUSVLNA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1af5cc245624fadeeee7fb04f5fa323b3621d0e5d1625c3ff326d34edfb560e9&width=400&height=225)
Rita Passey receives an injection of a Covid-19 vaccine at the NHS vaccine centre that has been set up at the Millennium Point centre in Birmingham, Britain. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBLGS3LXFI2XO6YA6DKNXXHRMA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d355d56370f1050cbd2e509f44cb70ffe68979ef2312a29d375df9d234d4c90d&width=400&height=225)
People arrive at Totally Wicked Stadium home of St Helen's rugby club as it opens as a Covid-19 mass vaccination centre in St Helen's, northwest England on January 18, 2021. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2PXOTUMZOBUYYLXWHSQEZMJ3YA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ad7dc2febafdbfdd68500a1607402b893237c34ca3b8da11a7ca03d9cfb3b31&width=400&height=225)
Britain on January 18 extended its coronavirus vaccination campaign to people over the age of 70, and new tougher restrictions for all arrivals to the country came into force. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KNSDHEUIJBQ6ZBFQ7HALLQ6SEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ca9622f4450bd766f416805e802f6f81d958dea632bdd60333143fe7736a6c6c&width=400&height=225)
Staff enter Blackburn cathedral as it opens as a Covid-19 mass vaccination centre in Blackburn, northwest England on January 18, 2021. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WOQUTZMLLJSSG4KCRTXZSMQMAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb050bd5d52a0c4556db219cd099367904798ae52f819eaa926ae3f158ba2862&width=400&height=225)
Security stand at the entrance to Blackburn cathedral as it opens as a Covid-19 mass vaccination centre in Blackburn, northwest England on January 18, 2021. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F72GH2LCJ7XFGAUJVTRYQR34MY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5d2a5f0406487087aadafe06ca463835f29befc222a0e5833711da751c1d24f9&width=400&height=225)
A healthcare worker prepares a Covid-19 vaccine inside Lichfield Cathedral, which had been turned into an emergency vaccination centre amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, January 15, 2021. File photo / Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VTN5E723YLS3G2EMEAXFUGUF7E.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b2f02c7a2f4782e2eca43ecca7cdb89e77db05a48faa3856b34b155188e6665&width=400&height=225)
A health worker administers the Covid-19 vaccine inside a former nightclub that has been turned into a NHS vaccine centre in Batchwood Hall, St Albans, Britain, January 15, 2021. File photo / Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4FGT5AC5LTWULYE3PZZUSVLNA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1af5cc245624fadeeee7fb04f5fa323b3621d0e5d1625c3ff326d34edfb560e9&width=400&height=225)
Rita Passey receives an injection of a Covid-19 vaccine at the NHS vaccine centre that has been set up at the Millennium Point centre in Birmingham, Britain. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBLGS3LXFI2XO6YA6DKNXXHRMA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d355d56370f1050cbd2e509f44cb70ffe68979ef2312a29d375df9d234d4c90d&width=400&height=225)
People arrive at Totally Wicked Stadium home of St Helen's rugby club as it opens as a Covid-19 mass vaccination centre in St Helen's, northwest England on January 18, 2021. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2PXOTUMZOBUYYLXWHSQEZMJ3YA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ad7dc2febafdbfdd68500a1607402b893237c34ca3b8da11a7ca03d9cfb3b31&width=400&height=225)
Britain on January 18 extended its coronavirus vaccination campaign to people over the age of 70, and new tougher restrictions for all arrivals to the country came into force. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KNSDHEUIJBQ6ZBFQ7HALLQ6SEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ca9622f4450bd766f416805e802f6f81d958dea632bdd60333143fe7736a6c6c&width=400&height=225)
Staff enter Blackburn cathedral as it opens as a Covid-19 mass vaccination centre in Blackburn, northwest England on January 18, 2021. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WOQUTZMLLJSSG4KCRTXZSMQMAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb050bd5d52a0c4556db219cd099367904798ae52f819eaa926ae3f158ba2862&width=400&height=225)
Security stand at the entrance to Blackburn cathedral as it opens as a Covid-19 mass vaccination centre in Blackburn, northwest England on January 18, 2021. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F72GH2LCJ7XFGAUJVTRYQR34MY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5d2a5f0406487087aadafe06ca463835f29befc222a0e5833711da751c1d24f9&width=400&height=225)
A healthcare worker prepares a Covid-19 vaccine inside Lichfield Cathedral, which had been turned into an emergency vaccination centre amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, January 15, 2021. File photo / Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VTN5E723YLS3G2EMEAXFUGUF7E.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b2f02c7a2f4782e2eca43ecca7cdb89e77db05a48faa3856b34b155188e6665&width=400&height=225)
A health worker administers the Covid-19 vaccine inside a former nightclub that has been turned into a NHS vaccine centre in Batchwood Hall, St Albans, Britain, January 15, 2021. File photo / Reuters
Speed of UK vaccination programme gives Boris Johnson’s premiership a needed boost
Britain’s distribution of Covid-19 jabs far outstrips that in mainland Europe
![Thomas Harding](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F384edce7-d64f-494d-bcc0-406f934ad51d.png?smart=true&auth=8a909847700683429f8bc49fba9592513058d9a433fbdd0e6b812909d2e147c6&width=70&height=70)
Thomas Harding
18 January, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic