England's mammoth Covid vaccination roll-out has already saved more than 84,000 lives, health chiefs believe.
Public Health England also estimates the jabs have stopped 23.4million from getting infected and nearly 67,000 hospital admissions.
The Government-run agency said the figures — based on modelling by academics — prove just how well the vaccines work.
Dr Mary Ramsay, PHE's head of immunisations, said: 'These figures show the vaccine programme’s remarkable impact on saving lives and reducing the spread of the virus.
'As cases have increased, the true scale of protection from the vaccine programme has become clear. Everyone who has come forward for the vaccine has played a part in this vital effort.
'It’s important people under 30 continue to take up the offer of the vaccine. Infection rates are highest in this age group and Covid can be serious for some.'
Meanwhile, doctors hailed the 'brilliant' achievement of more than 70 per cent of 18-29-year-olds in England having now had their first dose.
And NHS England bosses began inviting 17-year-olds who are within three months of turning 18 for their first jabs.
PHE today also claimed cases have remained 'stable' since 'Freedom Day' on July 19 — even though Government figures suggest infections are now creeping up again.
Graph shows: The number of hospitalisations in over-65s (brown line) plotted against the number of expected admissions without the vaccine programme (green line). The dotted lines show vaccine coverage in people aged 85 and above, 75 to 84 and 65 to 74 for first (D1) and second (D2) doses
The latest estimates for deaths and infections prevented by the vaccine drive 'show the vaccine programme's remarkable impact on saving lives and reducing the spread of the virus', according to Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at Public Health England
Case rates have risen in all regions of England except the north-east, according to Public Health England's weekly Covid surveillance report.
Yorkshire and the Humber had the worst infection rate in the week ending August 8, recording 372.4 positive tests for every 100,000 people.
At the other end of the coronavirus scale was the South East (255.0).
Rates in England have also risen among all age groups except 10 to 19-year-olds, PHE said.
The highest rate was among 20- to 29-year-olds (670.7).
But the lowest rate was among over-80s (66.6).
Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director for PHE, said: 'Data suggests that Covid cases are currently stable, although rates remain high across the country.
'Vaccines are breaking the link between infections and serious illness, and on Monday the rules will change so that those who have been double jabbed for at least two weeks, or are under 18, don't need to isolate if they are a close contact.
'Even if you have had both doses, if you are a close contact you should still get a PCR test as soon as you can and consider wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces, and limiting contact with other people, especially with anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable.'
She encouraged
