Note: This story was first published on 18 December 2020 and last updated on 30 April 2021. Healthily will continue to update this story as new information becomes available.
People around the world are getting vaccinated against COVID-19. When you’ll get a vaccine depends on several things, including where you live, your age, any health conditions that mean you’re more likely to be very ill if you get the virus, and decisions made by your government.
Read on to learn about how the vaccine roll-out is going so far in the UK, US and India.
The COVID-19 vaccine in the UK
The vaccines being used in the UK at the moment are the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
More than 50% of the total UK population has had at least 1 dose of a vaccine.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommends the order in which people are offered the vaccine in the UK.
At the moment, it’s being given to:
- people aged 40 and over
- people who will turn 40 before 1 July 2021
- people at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)
- people who live or work in care homes
- health and social care workers
- people with a condition that puts them at higher risk (clinically vulnerable)
- people with a learning disability
- people who are a main carer for someone at high risk from coronavirus
The COVID-19 vaccine in the US
Vaccines currently being used in the US are the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine.
In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing recommendations about who should be vaccinated, based on advice from the independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
Over 42% of the total US population has had at least 1 dose of a vaccine.
Each state has its own plans for when people can get vaccinated. For more information, you can contact your state health department. Some states, for example, have now started offering the vaccine to anyone aged 16 or older.
The COVID-19 vaccine in India
In India, the vaccines being used are the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine (known locally as Covishield) and Covaxin.
Less than 9% of the total population of India has had at least 1 dose of the vaccine.
It’s currently being offered to healthcare and frontline workers, people aged 60 and over, and people aged 45 to 59 with conditions that mean they're more likely to be very ill if they get COVID-19.
Eligible Indian citizens can register to have their vaccinations by visiting the CoWIN site.
Key points
- when you’ll get a vaccine depends on things including where you live, your age and any health conditions you may have
- more than 50% of the total UK population has had at least 1 dose of a vaccine
- over 42% of the total US population has had at least 1 dose of a vaccine
- less than 9% of the total population of India has had at least 1 dose of the vaccine
