"We want no one in North Yorkshire to be left behind"
The county's health officials want to make sure everyone who wants the vaccine can get it
Health officials in North Yorkshire are reassuring the public that no one will be "left behind" in the coronavirus vaccination effort.
This week, the county is expected to pass the 300,000 vaccine milestone, as over 170,000 will have received the jab through North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group and over 126,000 through Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group.
Those aged over 56 are now being invited to book their vaccines online if they haven't been contacted already.
People will be contacted over the phone, through the post or more recently by text. Vaccines are free and any indication that you would need to pay is false.
Amanda Bloor, accountability officer for North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, was speaking in the county's Local Resilience Forum yesterday. She told the forum the vaccination programme has been a "huge success".
She said: "We know some people will be apprehensive, a little cautious and there's some discussion about whether it's the right thing to do, but we would encourage absolutely everybody to take up this vaccine.
"Anybody who has had an offer of a vaccine and didn't feel able to say yes at the time and has changed their mind, please contact the booking service. It's not too late.
"For everyone who is eligible their is a vaccine available to you.
"We are going to focus and make sure if there are any gaps, whether that's people or communities who don't feel able to come forward for the vaccine, we want to make sure that nobody is left behind.
"The vaccination programme has been going really well. There are a lot of places across the county to get your vaccine. Please encourage your friends, family and other loved ones to take it."
As of Tuesday, the NHS has vaccinated more than 22.5 million people across the UK.