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Vaccine target met!
We've met our target of offering those eligible in the top four priority groups a vaccine by mid-Feb!
A very high percentage of those people have taken up the jab have been vaccinated in recent weeks, with more than 15 million people receiving the jab. Those in the the top four priority groups are sadly more likely to suffer serious illness from Covid-19, and alongside restrictions and other Covid-safe measures, the vaccine offers a huge amount of protection against the virus.
If you are over 70 and have not yet received a jab and wish to do so, please contact your GP or phone 119 to book.
The number of people who have received a jab in these four groups has led the NHS to begin vaccinating the next priority groups this week - those aged between 65 and 69, and those who are clinically vulnerable.
Over the weekend, more than 1.2 million letters landed on doorsteps asking people to log onto the national booking service, with another 1.2 million letters arriving at homes this week. Those who receive a letter can choose from more than 100 large scale vaccination centres or almost 200 pharmacy services.
Hundreds of thousands of people are receiving their jab every day. In a single day last weekend 544,603 people were vaccinated, an outstanding effort from NHS staff and those who are volunteering in the vaccine roll-out.
Our local and regional vaccination hubs are working hard, and Stockport borough has been able to vaccinate thousands of people locally in just weeks.
And in this phase, beginning this week, GP-led vaccination sites will begin to focus on the clinically vulnerable from group six, due to the relationship patients with long term conditions have with their general practices and to ensure continuity of care. More high street pharmacists are also being invited to take part as the programme continues to accelerate.
Our vaccine programme has stormed ahead of the EU and the USA. The proportion of people in the UK who have been vaccinated is the third highest in the world, with only Israel and the UAE having vaccinated higher percentages of their population.
From the start of December until now, our healthcare staff have worked so hard alongside volunteers, logistics teams, vaccine manufacturers and Government to get millions of people protected. A big thank you to all!
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