Over 232,000 Covid-19 jabs given in Wolverhampton

Latest figures show 232,196 life-saving vaccinations have been delivered in the city. A total of 142,360 residents have had at least one dose of the vaccine, while 89,836 people are now fully vaccinated, having had both doses.

Meanwhile 683,166 first doses and 447,378 second doses have been administered across Staffordshire, and in Sandwell 165,800 people have had at least one dose.

And 69 per cent of people in Dudley have had a first dose and 43 per cent have had a second dose.

The vaccine is currently available to anyone aged 30-plus, or who will turn 30 before July 1, the clinically extremely vulnerable, people with a learning disability, frontline health and social care workers and people in receipt of Carer's Allowance or who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person.

Anyone who is eligible for the vaccine but hasn’t had it yet is urged to book theirs as soon as possible via the national booking website.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, WolverhamptonCouncil’s cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said: “The vaccine is the best protection we have against Covid-19 and it’s brilliant news that more than 142,000 residents have had at least one jab.

“Even better than that, nearly 90,000 residents have now had both doses of the vaccine, which gives them maximum protection against this deadly virus.

“Given that the new, potentially more transmissable variant first identified in India is now circulating in Wolverhampton, and that case rates are starting to creep up again nationally, it is imperitive that everyone gets their jab as soon as they are able to, not only to protect themselves but others, too.

"I would urge anyone aged 30 and over – and particularly those aged 50 and over who are at greater risk from serious illness from Covid-19 – to make sure they get both doses of the vaccination as soon as possible.

“Please also continue to follow the Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air guidance, and get a twice-weekly rapid Covid-19 test to reassure yourselves and others that you don’t have the virus.”

Sandwell director of public health Dr Lisa McNally said: “Since January 2021, Sandwell has seen one of the fastest and most significant falls in infection rates in the country.

“This is a notable achievement for a community that wasn't offered a great deal of protection by lockdown. So many of our local population have had to go to work every day during the pandemic in environments that present a constant risk of infection. For example, the proportion of people in Sandwell working as machine operators or in processing plants is almost double the national average."

“Our Covid case rates, as of today, are relatively low. However, our Public Health team haven't relaxed their response. We still respond to outbreaks and run our local contract tracing service seven days a week. We are particularly concerned about the spread of the Indian variant, which is already causing big surges in infection in other areas and is likely to impact on us too.

“That means getting vaccinated is more important than ever. The current vaccine take-up rates in Sandwell are really high, but we can’t afford to rest on our laurels – that’s why we’re still asking everyone to please take up the offer to protect yourselves and others.

“Anyone who doesn’t have both doses of the vaccine is taking a serious risk. The vaccine provides very good protection against what is still a potentially fatal virus. Other areas of the country are already seeing hospital admissions rise again and being fully vaccinated is best way to make sure we, or someone we love, do not become one of those cases."

For more information about the vaccine, including the answers to frequently asked questions, visit wolverhampton.gov.uk/vaccineor www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination.

People will need to register with a GP surgery in England in order to receive the vaccine. For more details, visit www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps.