COVID 19: More than 32 million have had first jab - and almost 7 million have received both doses

More than 32 million people in the UK have had a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, new figures show.

A total of 32,010, 244 have had one dose - and almost 7 million (6,991,310) have received both, Department of Health numbers have revealed.

The number of people who have died within 28 days of a positive COVID test in the past 24 hours is 40, bringing the UK total to 127,080.

The government also said that, as of 9am on Saturday, there had been a further 2,589 lab-confirmed cases in the UK, which brings the total to 4,368,045.

Between 4 April and 10 April 18,970 people had a confirmed positive test result, which is a decrease of -32.0% compared to the previous seven days.

Ministers had said they aimed to offer the vaccine to everyone aged over 50 and all adults in at-risk groups - some 32 million people - by 15 April.

Thursday saw a record number of people having their second dose - 449,269.

The vaccine rollout in England is now inviting people aged 50 and above to book appointments after the first four groups - those aged 70 and over, care home residents, healthcare workers and people required to shield - were offered a jab by mid-February.

These groups have accounted for the majority of coronavirus deaths.

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The over 50s in Scotland and Wales and the over 40s in Northern Ireland have been asked to book appointments.

The latest British vaccination figures come on the day the global distribution of coronavirus vaccines has been criticised.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, said there remained a "shocking imbalance" across the world and that on average, one in four people in rich countries have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine - compared with only one in 500 in low-income nations.