‘Fewer’ older people in hospital in Northern Ireland since Covid jab rollout

Dr Michael McKenna prepares to administer the first of two doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to patient John Grey at Falls Surgery on the Falls Road, Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

There are fewer older people in hospitals since the start of the coronavirus vaccination programme, Northern Ireland’s health trusts have indicated.

Data from Public Health England (PHE) and Public Health Scotland (PHS) earlier suggested that one shot of the jab reduces the risk of being admitted to hospital by at least three-quarters for the over 80s.