Get vaccine "as matter of urgency" warn Lancashire doctors
They say the majority of COVID patients now being admitted are young people who haven't been vaccinated
Experts in Lancashire are urging those who still haven't had a COVID vaccine to get one "as matter of urgency".
As people across the county start to get used to living without coronavirus restrictions experts are warning we shouldn't drop our guard.
The number of COVID patients in Lancashire's hospitals is now the highest it's been since the end of February, although still much lower than seen during the Christmas peak.
The latest data shows there were 58 patients in hospital with COVID across Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust on the 13th of July.
Dr Mohammed Mohammed Munavvar, a Consultant Chest Physician at the Royal Preston Hospital said most of those are younger people:
"The vast majority who have had both vaccinations do not require intensive care and do not seem to suffer from complications."
"But patients are getting admitted and becoming seriously ill even if they are extremely young and fit if they have not been vaccinated."
"The vast majority of people who have come into hospital in the recent past and have become very unwell have not even had a single dose of the vaccine."
"More than 65% who become seriously ill are in the younger group who have not received even their first vaccine."
"Covid is going to be around for some time and the only way to combat it is to get vaccinated as soon as possible."