England will launch the next phase of its Covid-19 vaccination programme when it will start offering doses to people aged 70 and above and those who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable to the coronavirus.

The vaccination programme — the biggest so far in Europe — has focused until now on people aged 80 and older as well as frontline health and care staff, according to Reuters.

“Today is a significant milestone in our vaccination programme as we open it up to millions more people who are most at risk from Covid-19,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday.

“We have a long way to go and there will doubtless be challenges ahead — but by working together we are making huge progress in our fight against this virus.”