Nine-in-ten over 80s in Rutland have received their first vaccination against Covid-19.

Rutland Health Primary Care Network says it has administered the first vaccination to 89.6% of the 2753 patients aged over 80.

In an update today, the network reported: "At least one attempt has been made to contact all patients in this group, and there will be more bookings made this week. Residents of all 11 care homes that our practices look after have been vaccinated, and most of the care home staff."

It continued: "In parallel to the manual booking system (telephoning patients and, where appropriate, their next of kin), we are also starting to invite some patients aged 77-79 using the automated booking system which sends an SMS to your mobile phone.

"Using both systems means that we can book more patients and deliver the vaccine in the most effective way. We will contact people who are over 80 in other ways if they cannot use the telephone."

The practice has more than 2000 patients aged 75-79 in the next cohort (3) which it is now contacting.

The network continued: "We are dependent of the supply of vaccine (which is improving but remains erratic) so don't worry if you have not received an invitation to book an appointment – we will be contacting everyone over 75 in the next few weeks. Please do not contact your practice.

"We are also vaccinating frontline health and care staff whose work means that they have face to face contact with multiple older adults."

Rutland Health PCN has received deliveries of both the Pfizer BioNtech and Astra Zeneca (Oxford) vaccines and says it is delivering them to patients as quickly as possible.

The network also said: "If you have a friend or relative who aged over 80 and is normally housebound but who could be brought to the COVID vaccination centre in Oakham (there are wheelchairs available) please contact us by emailing [email protected] so that we can book them an appointment.

"We will contact those housebound patients who cannot be brought to the vaccination centre in the next few weeks to arrange their vaccinations once we have received guidance on how we can safely vaccinate people at home.

"We will be completing the over 80 patient cohort in the next two weeks and moving to the next grouping providing we receive the vaccine deliveries. Each cohort comprises more than 2000 patients. We are prioritising in age order. If your cohort is being vaccinated and you have not yet received an invitation to book an appointment please be patient; we will contact you. Please do not contact your GP practice."

It also advised: "Some patients over 70 may receive a letter from the national NHS offering COVID vaccination at a mass vaccination site . The national system is entirely separate from the Rutland COVID Vaccination Progamme and you will not be able to book into the Rutland vaccination centre in Oakham using the national booking system. Your GP practice has no information about the mass vaccination centres."