The UK on Thursday reported 1,162 COVID-19 deaths, the second highest total for daily deaths in the country.

According to statistics, the only day with higher death toll was April 21 when 1,224 deaths were reported. The figure is also more than 100 from the one reported on Wednesday (1,041).

At the same time, the government reported 52,618 new confirmed cases. That number is the lowest daily total since Wednesday last week when the government reported 50,023 cases.

The news came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that close to 1.5 million people had received their first vaccine dose.

1.26 million of those people are in England, 113,000 in Scotland, 49,000 in Wales and 46,000 in Northern Ireland.

"Within two to three weeks, all of them will have a very considerable degree of immunity. It is thanks to the arrival of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine which can be stored at room temperature," Johnson said.

Johnson, who spoke at Downing Street, pledged to have every elderly care home resident offered a coronavirus vaccine by the end of January.

He also pledged to ensure that vaccines were available to everyone within a radius of 10 miles.

"This a national challenge on a scale like nothing we have seen before and it will require an unprecedented national effort and, of course, there will be difficulties…appointments will be changed," Johnson said.

A full vaccine deployment plan will be published on Monday, Johnson added, together with daily updates on progress made.

(With input from agencies)