Covid vaccines: New plea for 11,000 of Northamptonshire's over-50s to get their jabs NOW

Covid-19 vaccination bosses have put out a plea to 11,000 of Northamptonshire's over-50s who have not yet taken up an offer to be jabbed.

The government this week confirmed everybody in the top nine priority groups have been offered at least a first dose of coronavirus vaccine.

But official NHS England figures released today showed around 265,876 out of the county's estimated 277,222 over-50s received jabs by April 11 despite calls going out to everybody.

The biggest shortfall in take up is in the 50-54 age groups, where just under 90 per cent have so far come forward, and in the 65-69-year-olds where seven per cent have yet to be jabbed.

Chris Pallot, Northamptonshire's Covid-19 vaccination programme director, said: “The NHS vaccination programme in Northamptonshire continues to make strong progress and everyone aged 50 and over, as well as health and social care workers, unpaid carers and people at higher clinical risk, has now been offered a first dose of the vaccine.

“While take-up of the vaccine has been extremely positive in our county, we are determined to make sure no-one is left behind.

"I would therefore like to stress to anyone who qualifies for the vaccine but hasn’t yet received their first dose, that it’s not too late to book an appointment to give yourself the best possible protection against coronavirus.

“Those in a priority group can book appointments by calling 119, by visiting www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination or by contacting their GP practice.”

The total number of first doses delivered in the county has passed 350,000, including those under-50 who fall under one of the priority groups. The latest figure of 351,030 includes all jabs delivered up to April 11.

Of those, 24,258 were given in the last week — 4,074 first doses and 20,184 boosters.

More than 80,000 people have now had a second shot of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Northamptonshire's vaccine roll-out is being carried out at local clinics run by GPs and pharmacies and at the vaccination centre in Moulton Park.

The scope of the roll-out was widened earlier this week to include those aged between 45 and 49 for the first time.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said the programme will then move on to everyone aged 40 or over "in line with supplies."

Mr Hancock added the government is "on track" to offer jabs to everyone in the UK aged 18 or over by the end of July.

Appointments can be made on the NHS booking website, which temporarily crashed on Tuesday when it opened up to the new age group.

The following groups are already covered in the top priority cohorts:

■ Those at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)

■ People who live or work in care homes

■ Health and social care workers

■ People with a condition that puts them at higher risk (clinically vulnerable)

■ People with a learning disability

■ Those who are a main carer for someone at high risk from coronavirus