Over 190,000 people in Cornwall have had a coronavirus vaccine

The figures have been released as NHS England starts to invite over-60s to book their vaccinations

Author: Emma HartPublished 1st Mar 2021

More than 190,000 people in Cornwall have received a coronavirus vaccine so far - 33.9% of the county's population.

In its weekly data release, NHS England has published vaccination figures by constituency for the first time.

St Ives ranks second among the 55 constituencies in the south-west, with an estimated 40.6% of its population having received at least one dose.

South East Cornwall (38.4%) and North Cornwall (35.8%) also feature in the region's top 10.

Putting the constituency stats together, Cornwall is the second leading county in the south-west.

With the UK vaccination programme averaging more than 2.5 million doses a week, the Prime Minister aims to ensure every adult is offered a jab by the end of July.

More than 19 million people have received a vaccine so far, equivalent to 1 in 3 adults, including over 1.7 million in the south-west.

This is the third highest per capita, behind only the UAE and Israel. In addition, only two countries have administered more doses than the UK - China and the USA.

Everyone in the top four priority groups has now been offered a vaccine and invites are now going out to those in priority groups 5 to 9.

The latest figures show that two-thirds of those aged 65 to 69 have now been vaccinated.

Julian Ellacott, chairman of South West Conservatives, has welcomed the Prime Minister's roadmap to take cautious and irreversible steps out of lockdown, which will be guided by the data and not dates.

He said: "The vaccination roll-out continues to be a great success in the South West and across the country.

"Over 1.7 million people in the South West have now had at least one dose - over 30% of the population - thanks to a huge team effort from NHS staff, volunteers and everyone else involved.

"I urge everyone to have their vaccine when called on, as every jab will bring us one step closer to normality".

Julian Ellacott, South West Conservatives

How is the nationwide vaccine rollout going?

The figures have been released as the NHS invites the over-60s to book their life-saving Covid jab.

The NHS vaccination programme, the biggest in the health service's history, has jabbed more than more than 17 million people in a matter of weeks, including four in five people aged 65 to 69.

People aged 64 were invited to have a life-saving jab last week and 1.9 million letters have started arriving at the homes of those aged 60 to 63 today explaining how they can arrange a vaccination through the national booking service.

Those most at risk are being vaccinated first in line with guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and immunisation.

The latest batch of invites arriving from today will mean everyone in the first seven priority groups will have been offered a jab.

Professor Stephen Powis, the NHS's national medical director, said: "In just a few months, the NHS has made extraordinary progress in vaccinating more than 17 million people across the country and it is incredible that more than nine out of 10 people aged 65 and over have already received potentially life-saving protection.

"It is down to the hard work of NHS staff, volunteers and all the others supporting the vaccination programme, that we can now invite everyone aged 60 to 63 years old to arrange an appointment to get jabbed as soon as possible.

"It is never too late to take up the offer and I would urge anyone eligible who has yet to do so to come forward and protect yourself and others".

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS' National Medical Director

How can I book a vaccine?

The booking service can be accessed at the NHS Vaccination Website. Those who cannot go online can call 119 free of charge.

NHS teams are visiting those who are housebound and cannot travel to a vaccination service.

Vaccinations are now being administered at more than 1,500 sites across the country, including mosques, museums and rugby grounds, with the distribution of centres meaning 98% of the country lives within 10 miles of at least one vaccination service.

Appointments are staggered to allow for social distancing and people are being asked not to turn up early to avoid creating queues.

Everyone will receive a health status check and a pre-vaccination assessment before they have their jab.

You can read more information about the coronavirus vaccine on the NHS website here.