The COVID-19 vaccination programme has so far prevented an estimated 7.2 million infections and 27,000 deaths in England, according to the latest research.

The latest modelling analysis from Public Health England (PHE) and the University of Cambridge’s MRC Biostatistics Unit looked at the direct and indirect impact of the COVID-19 vaccination programme on infections and mortality.

It found that the vaccination programme has prevented between 6.4 and 7.9 million infections and 26,000 and 28,000 deaths in England alone.

The total was calculated by comparing the estimated impact of vaccination on infection and mortality against a worst-case scenario where no vaccines were in place to reduce infections and mortality.

‘These findings remind us once again why getting both doses of your vaccine is the most important thing you can do to stop the spread of this terrible disease,’ said PHE head of immunisation Dr Mary Ramsay.

‘As well as preventing the deaths of tens of thousands from COVID-19, for the first time we can now appreciate the huge impact that the vaccines have had on stopping people getting infected, and therefore passing the virus on to others.’

Dr Paul Birrell, senior research associate at the MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge and senior principal modeller at PHE, said: ‘The number of infections and deaths saved by the vaccination programme is not only astoundingly high, but continues to grow exponentially as the vaccination programme continues.

‘In practice, this analysis highlights that the vaccination programme has given us a path back towards a normal life that wouldn’t otherwise have been possible. This is why it’s so important that we all get two doses of the vaccine as soon as we can.’