Two-thirds of Dorset priority groups vaccinated

Dorset is making quick progress with the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine.

Around two thirds of over 80s (nearly 65%) and care homes (68%) have been given the jab so far.

68,693 people in Dorset had taken up the offer of the vaccine as of 17th January.

It's hoped the first four priority groups will be vaccinated by mid-February. Those include:

• residents in a care home for older adults and their carers

• all those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers

• all those 75 years of age and over

• all those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals

Dr Karen Kirkham, local Dorset GP, is the Clinical lead for the Dorset COVID-19 vaccination programme. She said:

“The vaccination programme in Dorset is off to a strong start. We have made incredible progress in a very short space of time since the vaccination – which is safe and effective – first became available. We’d like to thank the entire Dorset team who have done an incredible job to deliver what is the largest vaccination programme in our history.

“This has been an incredible effort by everyone involved. It is thanks to the tireless work of the whole team across Dorset, and the support of local people.

“Our ambition, if supplies allow, is to have offered vaccines to the most vulnerable by the middle of February.

“The roll out is good news, but we cannot afford to be complacent. The large increase in cases hospitals are seeing and the emergence of a new variant of the virus also shows that we cannot let our guard down now, and even those who have received a vaccine still need to follow all the same guidance as everyone else to help protect others.

In the South West a total of 467,170 doses have been given to 415,087 people. It's all part of the government's plan to vaccinate the top four priority groups by mid-February.

Matt Hancock has praised the acceleration of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out as latest figures released on Thursday (21 Jan) show more than 5 million jabs have been administered across the UK.

Dorset CCG says we still have an important part to play in fighting the virus. They’re asking us all to do the following:

• Please continue to follow all the guidance to control the virus and save lives – that means staying at home as much as possible and following the ‘hands, face, space’ guidance when you are out;

• Don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, they will contact you;

• When they do contact you, please attend your booked appointments.