Nearly half of Devon's adults have had a Covid vaccine
Almost 510,000 have been administered across the county
Nearly half a million adults in Devon have now had their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine – just under half the adult population of the county – while more than half of adults in Cornwall have had their first jab.
The statistics, which provide the position as of March 7, show that there have been 507, 900 vaccines delivered in Devon, with 486,522 of them being the first dose. Just over vaccinations were carried out in the last week, the lowest for several weeks, but supply is to increase significantly from this week
Across the whole of Devon, which will have risen in the most recent days, are by far the highest number of vaccinations for any of the regions within the South West and they show that 48.6 per cent of the adult population had received their first jab. This is up on the 44.5 per cent as of February 28.
Exeter, Plymouth and Mid Devon are the only regions in the county were less than half of adults have had their first dose – in part due to the younger population of the two cities.
In Cornwall, 237,396 people have had their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, 51.5 per cent of the adult population, up from 46.8 per cent as of last week.
Of the total population of Devon, 21,378 people, 2.1 per cent of adults, have also had their second dose, with 14,318 in Cornwall, 3.1 per cent of adults.
Dr Paul Johnson, clinical chairman of the Devon CCG, told Thursday’s Team Devon Local Outbreak Engagement Board meeting that around 95 per cent of the over 65s had in the county had their first dose, and around 25 per cent of those under 65.
He added: “This is really positive and testament to the teams that have done the work, but the also the population see the need for the vaccine. The vast majority of people – over 90 per cent – are coming forward for the vaccine – and for flu jab – the best we have ever managed is 70 per cent.
“We are doing around 50,000 vaccinations a week but the supply will increase for the next ten weeks, and second doses are under way.”
And figures also show the number of vaccines that have been delivered in each local authority, as well as in the MSOA area.
In every single local authority in Devon and Cornwall, more than a third of all adults have had at least one dose, with all but three seeing more than half having had their first dose.
Of the adult population, 51.4 per cent in Cornwall, 55.9 per cent in East Devon, 38.6 per cent in Exeter, 58.9 per cent in the Isles of Scilly, 48.6 per cent in Mid Devon, 52.7 per cent in North Devon, 42.7 per cent in Plymouth, 52.3 per cent in South Hams, 53.9 per cent in Teignbridge, 55.7 per cent in Torbay, 52.9 per cent in Torridge, and 57.4 per cent in West Devon, have had one dose. These figures are as of March 7 and so will have risen in recent days.
But the Team Devon meeting heard that vaccine uptake was lower in the more deprived communities, and in Devon, early data modelling suggests people of Black and Asian ethnicity have lower take-up than White British people, in most groups ranging from approximately 63 per cent to 76 per cent.
Devon public health consultant Sarah Ogilvie said: “We are working to understand and address vaccine hesitancy among people from local BAME communities to ensure that everyone who is eligible can access the vaccination in a way which works for them when it is their turn in the national programme.
“We’ll be adapting and widening the support we can offer to meet the needs of local communities. We’re using the links we have to offer help but we also really encourage individuals or groups who would like some information or support to get in touch and we will work with our vaccine ambassadors to provide it.”