Vast majority of Covid-19 patients hospitalised were unvaccinated

According to The Times, out of the 12,383 cases of infection with that variant, 464 had gone to a hospital Accident and Emergency unit and only 126 admitted.

Of the latter, 83 had not received a vaccine and only three patients had received the full course of two shots, leading the health minister to urge Britons to get their shots.

"The jabs are working, we have to keep coming forward to get them and that includes, vitally, that second jab, which we know gives better protection against the Delta variant," Matt Hancock told MPs the day before.

NHS trust leaders reportedly also said that those patients admitted to hospital after having two shots also had "significant" pre-existing conditions.

The concern nevertheless was that due to the so-called 'Law of large numbers' even a small percentage of people left vulnerable could result in a large number of hospitalisations being required.

Government officials have committed to making vaccinations available to all people aged over 18 by the end of July.

A decision on whether to vaccinate 12 to 17 year olds was expected within weeks.