over 2 years ago

Covid: UK hits 85m jab milestone amid discount push for young

Young people will be offered discounted takeaways and SLOTXO car travel to get their Covid jabs in a bid to boost vaccine uptake, the government has said.

Food delivery and ride-hailing firms including Uber, Bolt and Deliveroo will offer incentives to people to get vaccinated.

More than 68% of 18 to 29-year-olds in England have had a first jab, while 88.6% of all UK adults have had one.

In total, over 85 million doses have now been administered across the UK.

More than 72.5% of UK adults have received two doses so far.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid described delivering 85 million doses as a "phenomenal achievement", while vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi urged people to get both jabs "so we can carry on doing the things we've missed".

On Sunday the UK reported 24,470 new Covid cases as well as a further 65 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

Ride-hailing firm Uber will send reminders to all users in August urging them to get vaccinated - and will offer discounted rides and meals on its Uber Eats platform for young people who have the vaccine.

Deliveroo will also offer vouchers, while Bolt, another taxi app firm, will offer "free ride credit" to vaccination centres.

The Department of Health said details on more partnerships would be released "in due course".

Pizza Pilgrims, one of the companies involved in the scheme, said it may offer some free pizza slices if it hosted a drop-in vaccine centre but said there were no plans for widespread or ongoing discounts for vaccinated people.