Nine out of 10 over 70s in Shropshire now vaccinated
New figures show that 90 per cent of those in the county over 70 have now received their first dose of the Covid vaccine.
The county had made a slow start to the vaccination programme, and at one point in January it had the worst rate for the amount of over 80s vaccinated anywhere in the country.
But there have been significant improvements in recent weeks – with a jump of 42,792 in the past week.
The increase is likely down to a host of vaccination sites getting up and running across the county – including a mass vaccination centre at the Telford International Centre, and other large hubs at Ludlow Racecourse and Shrewsbury's Indoor Bowls Centre.
GP practices across the county have also been running vaccination operations in their local area.
The latest NHS data shows 109,865 people had received their first jab by February 7, an increase of 57 per cent from January 31.
Of those, 71,673 were aged 70 or over – equating to 89 per cent of the population in that age group, according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics.
They include: 23,696 given to people aged between 70 and 74 – 78 per cent of the age group; 20,366 given to people aged between 75 and 79 – 94 per cent; 27,611 given to people aged 80 and over – 96 per cent.
Local health bosses have started to move o to vaccinating the next group, the over 65s.
It comes after there were only 150 people booked in to Telford International Centre on Wednesday – despite a capacity of 1,500 a day. The low number was down to the fact that most of the over 70 group had already received their jabs.
The figures cover people vaccinated in the Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin sustainability and transformation partnership area – a collaboration between local NHS services and councils aimed at improving health care.
A small number of people are not included due to their age being unknown.
Across England, around 6.5 million people aged 70 and over had received their first dose of the vaccine by February 7, covering 86 per cent of the age group – although the dosage figure includes a small number with registered addresses in Scotland or Wales.
The Government says the vaccine rollout is on track to meet a target of offering a first dose of the vaccine to everyone in the top four priority groups by the middle of February.
Older care home residents, care home workers, people aged over 70, frontline health and social care workers and the clinically extremely vulnerable make up the four groups.
The data also shows 38,192 people aged between 16 and 69 across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin had received a first vaccination dose.
It means 27 per cent of people aged 16 and over living in the area have received their first jab.
The Government's plan to provide vaccinations at more than 2,500 locations across England should ensure everyone will be within 10 miles of a centre.
Vaccinations are currently being given in major hospitals, pharmacies and newly-set-up centres such as football stadiums and out-of-town parking areas.
This is on top of more than 1,000 local vaccinations services in surgeries, community centres and churches.
After the first dose of the vaccine, people should receive a follow-up jab within 12 weeks, according to current guidance.
Across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, 2,820 people had received their second dose by February 7, up three per cent from the week before.
