‘Excellent start to vaccination programme’ as over 50k get jab

TENS of thousands of people ranging from the elderly and vulnerable to frontline NHS workers have received the coronavirus vaccine, health officials say.

Latest figures from NHS England – for the period up to January 17 – show 56,317 people in Leicestershire and Rutland had received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Of these, 27,826 doses were given to people over the age of 80 and 28,491 to others, almost all of whom were NHS and social care staff working on the frontline.

Of the total, 5,215 people had received their second dose of the vaccine – 2,053 aged under 80 and 3,162 over 80s, the local NHS reported.

Andy Williams, chief executive of the counties’ three clinical commissioning groups, said the number would have risen significantly in the past week.

Mr Williams said: “While there is still much more to do, this represents an excellent start to our local vaccination programme. It is testament to the hard work of all our NHS staff, partners and volunteers who have given up their time to support our efforts.

“I would like to express my gratitude to everyone involved. We have continued vaccinating at pace over the past week so the real-time numbers will already be significantly higher.

“The good news is that while the vaccination programme got off to a staggered start, as vaccine supplies increase we expect that fair shares allocation will ensure that between now and mid-February everyone in the four highest priority groups can be

offered the first vaccine dose.

“We already have significant capacity within our programme to increase the numbers of vaccinations given as vaccine availability continues to improve.”

The NHS has asked people to wait to be invited for their vaccination and to not contact their GP practice about it.

Mr Williams said: “We know many people are anxious to receive

their vaccine.

“I would like to reassure them each area is working through their list of patients in priority order and no-one will be forgotten.

“I would also like to emphasise how important it is that everyone who is invited does take up the offer of receiving the vaccine.

“It is suitable for all invited patients and has been endorsed by cultural and faith leaders both

locally and across the country. “This vaccine saves lives.”

The Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation’s top priority groups are:

Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers; Those over 80 and frontline health and social care workers; Those 75 and over;

Those 70 years and over and the clinically extremely vulnerable.