Almost half of adults across Norfolk and Waveney have received their first COVID vaccine

Almost half of adults across Norfolk and Waveney have now received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to figures released yesterday.

The figures reveal NHS Norfolk and Waveney are sixth out of the 42 health and care systems across England, after 49 per cent of adults received their first dose.

NHS England and NHS Improvement revealed 436,634 doses of the vaccine had been given across the area, with 419,439 people receiving their first dose and 17,195 their second dose.

Melanie Craig, chief executive of NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Today marks exactly one year to the day since the World Health Organisation declared a pandemic, so this is a truly incredible achievement. Thank you to our fantastic NHS staff and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to make this happen.

“We continue to go full steam ahead with the vaccination programme in Norfolk and Waveney, but we won’t rest until we have offered vaccinations to everyone who is eligible.

“Take-up of the vaccine has been strong, but we want to ensure that nobody is left behind. We are now looking at ways of getting to vulnerable groups and communities who are harder to reach, ensuring that everyone has equitable access to these vaccines.

“We strongly encourage everyone who is eligible in Norfolk and Waveney to take up the offer of vaccination. The more people that are protected against COVID-19 the more lives we will save and we can begin to return to a more normal way of life. If you have already been offered a jab but have not taken it up it is not too late. Please come forward and get booked in.”

In the week ending last Sunday, a total of 38,608 doses of the vaccine were given in Norfolk and Waveney. This was a drop from the previous week due to vaccine supply and some of the reduced supply being used for second doses. This supply is expected to increase significantly from next week.

The figures also revealed that 97 per cent of over 80's have received their first dose of vaccine. 100 per cent of those aged 75-79 and 96 per cent of 70-74 year olds have received their first dose.

88 per cent of 65-69 year olds and 66 per cent of 60-64 year olds have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

GP practices are currently focusing on those aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions. If you are in this group, please do not contact your GP directly, they will contact you as soon as it’s your turn.

Patients aged 65-69 years old, those aged 60-64, and those aged 55-59 who have received a letter inviting them to book a vaccine appointment should do so through the national website www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or call 119 if you can’t use the internet.

GP practices will also be vaccinating these groups, so anyone who doesn’t want to or can’t make it to one of these centres can still choose to wait to be contacted by their local GP practice.

Over the coming weeks, further options will be added for patients to choose where they receive their vaccination. This includes the addition of more pharmacy-led vaccination sites, mobile vaccination clinics and a potential drive through option which is being explored.

Appointments are also available at a number of large scale vaccination centres in Norfolk and Waveney. Appointments for large scale vaccination centres are released in line with vaccine supply, so some sites will come and go, depending on when the patient accesses the system.

The NHS is urging those who are eligible for an appointment to be patient and keep checking.