Almost half a million Covid jabs given in South West
Health Secretary hails acceleration of vaccine roll-out across the Wiltshire area
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.
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.
The data covers seven health areas across the region.
So far up to 17 January 2021:
* 63,293 doses have been administered in Wiltshire and Swindon, Bath and North East Somerset
* 98,234 in Devon
* 79,743 in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
* 68,693 in Dorset
* 65,026 in Gloucestershire
* 46,468 in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and 45,713 in Somerset
PRIORITY GROUPS GET COVID JABS
30,040 over 80's have had at least one dose of the vaccine in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire area, and more than 26, 000 under 80's.
More than 5 million vaccinations have been administered to 4.6 million people - the fourth highest figure per capita in the world behind only Bahrain, the UAE and Israel according to the Government. Only two countries have administered more doses than the UK - China and the USA.
The government's vaccine delivery plan is the biggest such programme in British history.
It sets out how the government aims to administer 2 million doses a week by the end of January, as well as offering vaccines to every elderly care home resident by the end of the month.
So far, more than half of those over 80 and care home residents have received a vaccine.
On top of this, the government is opening new vaccination sites every day to ensure everyone is within 10 miles of such a centre.
VACCINATION CENTRES IN WILTSHIRE
Salisbury Cathedral, Tidworth Leisure Centre, and the Salisbury Plain Health Centre in Larkhill are among the temporary vaccination sites to have already opened.
Salisbury residents have also been invited to use the mass vaccination hub that has been set-up and opened at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) on Monday (18 Jan).
A total of 65 pharmacy sites are joining the programme this week and early next week, with more to come.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said:
"Vaccines are the way out of the pandemic and this historic roll-out will cover every corner of the country. Community pharmacists have been phenomenal and will have a pivotal role to play in the continued expansion of the programme. Through the UK vaccine delivery plan, over 4 million people have already received their jab. From hospitals to pharmacies, sports clubs to places of worship - we're making sure the vaccine is as accessible as possible."
"In the meantime, it is vital everyone continues to play their part in this national effort by staying at home to protect the NHS."