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The head of NHS Providers has said “very, very few” Covid patients in hospital in England have received two coronavirus jabs – showing the vaccines provide “very high” levels of protection.

Chris Hopson said patients tended now to be younger – meaning there was a lower need for critical care.

But he said it was “incredibly striking” how busy hospitals were, as they deal with non-Covid backlogs.

Trusts were going “full pelt”, he said.

Meanwhile, Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi