This is LBC from Global, leading Britain's conversation with James O'Brien.

Three minutes after ten is the time. You're listening to James O'Brien on LBC. Always try at the

moment to begin with some good news,

although you do worry that you're jinxing things,

because I'm going to start every show by saying the vaccination program is still going well.

And I'm going to start every show by saying that the vaccination program is still going well

until it's finished or until it's not going well.

And for the gazillionth time, please join me in

recognising how important it is, whatever your political leanings or loyalties may be, to wish

nothing but the very, very best upon that entire programme and all the human beings who are

moving heaven and earth to implement it.

So the promise today is that all over 50s will be vaccinated by April.

2.3 million people have been vaccinated already.

It means that the old per capita measure, we are near the top of the international tables.

Of course, you know, it's important to remember. We're also near the top of the international tables. Of course, you know, it's important to remember.

We're also near the top of the international tables on all the bad measures.

But we take our good news where we can at the moment.

And there can be little better news, I think, than vaccination progress.

3.9% of the UK population has now been vaccinated,

which puts us behind only Israel,

UAE and Bahrain. So thank you to everybody involved in that. Congratulations for now and please keep it up. Of course, I look up from my microphone and see that the BBC is currently reporting

that the excess deaths rate,

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