Massive shot in the arm as 86,000 Covid-19 jabs are delivered in Northamptonshire

NHS heroes going at a rate of 20,000 a week..even before new vaccination centre opens
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Northamptonshire is well over than half-way towards its target of delivering Covid-19 jabs to 135,000 people by mid-February.

Latest NHS figures published today (Thursday) showed more than 86,000 doses of the precious vaccine had been delivered to 76,403 people by Sunday (January 24) — including a whopping 20,000 plus in just SEVEN DAYS.

And that was the BEFORE the new mass vaccination centre in Northampton opened on Monday with the capacity to vaccinate thousands more!

The vaccination roll-out is speeding up and bringing relief to thousands. Photo: Kirsty EdmondsThe vaccination roll-out is speeding up and bringing relief to thousands. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds
The vaccination roll-out is speeding up and bringing relief to thousands. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds

Chris Pallot, director of the Northampton vaccination programme, said: "We do know this vaccine will stop people becoming very sick and that is the most important thing.

"In time, this is our way towards the end of this terrible journey and it's a huge privilege to be a part of it.

"To put a light at the end of the tunnel is a great privilege. It has been humbling to see how many hands have gone up to help.

Of the 76,000-plus who have been vaccinated since the roll-out started in early-December, 9,735 have already received their vital second ''booster' jab.

Figures only count those in the over-80 age group and healthcare staff among the top priority group, although some over-70s have already started receiving invitations for their jabs.

Only two areas — Gloucester and Hereford & Worcester — have achieved more Northants' in reaching 87.2 per cent of its over-80s population.

But news of the vaccination roll-out has come tragically too late for some as NHS England also confirmed ten more deaths among coronavirus patients at Northamptonshire's two main hospitals.

Six died at Kettering General and four at Northampton between Monday and Wednesday this week, all within 28 days of a positive test or having the virus mentioned on a death certificate.