LONDON — More than 10 million people in the United Kingdom have so far received their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the government said in a statement.

The milestone means almost one in five adults in the UK have now received both doses

According to the statement, health services across the UK have now administered a total of 43,084,487 million vaccines between Dec. 8 and April 18, including 32,932,448 million people with their first dose and 10,152,039 million with their second.

Commenting on the UK passing another important milestone in its vaccination campaign, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Vaccines offer us the best possible protection from the virus, so it is fantastic that 10 million people have now received their second dose.

“This is another remarkable milestone in our vaccination program, which has already saved thousands of lives.”

“I want to thank the brilliant staff and volunteers involved in the rollout, and urge all those who are called to keep coming forward,” Johnson added.

Lauding the achievement, Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “This is another terrific milestone, meaning over ten million people who are the most vulnerable to COVID in the UK now have double protection from this awful virus.

“Second doses are crucial to maximizing the strength and duration of your protection from COVID-19 and I’m urging everybody eligible to get their jab as soon as possible.”

“This milestone is thanks to the dedication and tireless efforts of our NHS workers, volunteers, civil servants and everybody working on the frontline to save lives and stop this virus in its tracks,” Hancock added.

Meanwhile Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi said that vaccines have already saved more than 10,000 lives and they are the best way to protect you and your loved ones from this dreadful disease.

“We want to send this virus into retreat. No matter who you are, where you live, your race or your religion, I encourage everyone to get both doses when offered and help this country return life to normal,” the minister stressed.

He added that all vaccines being used in the UK have undergone robust clinical trials and have met the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s strict standards of safety, effectiveness and quality. Rolling reviews are underway by the MHRA to assess the Janssen and Novavax vaccines.

Data from Public Health England’s real-world study shows the vaccines are already having a significant impact in the UK, reducing hospitalizations and deaths, saving more than 10,000 lives between December and March.

According to the government statement, The UK has secured early access to 457 million doses of eight of the most promising vaccine candidates, including:

— BioNTech/Pfizer for 40 million doses

— Oxford/AstraZeneca for 100 million doses

— Moderna for 17 million doses

— Janssen for 30 million doses

— Novavax for 60 million doses

— Valneva for 100 million doses

— GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi Pasteur for 60 million doses

— CureVac for 50 million doses

To date, the government has invested over £300 million into manufacturing a successful vaccine to enable a rapid rollout. — Agencies