The number of weekly vaccines given almost doubled at the last official count with coming up to 500,000 jabs given. 

Of the 485,738 injections that have gone into arms across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland since December, 460,419 have been first doses. 

 

The adult population of the city, county and Rutland is 660,000 meaning medics are significantly more than half way through giving all over 18s a jab. 

 

In the seven days before and including March 21, some 66,271 injections were given – just over 60,000 of which were first doses.

 

The figures also show that there are just over 25,000 people in the area who are now fully vaccinated. 

 

The number of people who have received their first dose by age group is:

Over 80s: 50,931

75-79: 38,211

70-74: 52,777

65-69: 52,076

60-64: 57,551

55-59: 59,126

50-54: 43,161

Under 50: 106,316

Younger age groups include health and social care workers and clinically vulnerable patients.

Caroline Trevithick, chief nurse at Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland's CCGs, yesterday told LeicestershireLive: "I'm immensely proud to lead this programme for LLR, but it's really about the people on the frontline who have been out there and putting these vaccines in people's arms and so far we've given more than 400,000 first doses.

"It's been a tremendous effort."

 

Addressing people who might have concerns about the vaccine, she added: "We're seeing local evidence and evidence from elsewhere in the country on the efficacy of the vaccine and that's really something for us to hold on to.

"From a safety perspective and an efficacy perspective, the evidence is out there, otherwise we wouldn't be collectively supporting it, we wouldn't be able to do that in good faith.†

 

Joined by NHS colleagues, Mrs Trevithick added: "I think now we can all say we've had it, I've had mine, my husband's had his, we're pushing it with family members as well as colleagues and patients alike."

 

Eligible patients including all those over 50, are being urged to book their jab or visit a drop-in vaccine centre before the end of March because supply will slow down throughout April.

 

The NHS is on track to meet the government's mid-April target to offer a first dose to all adults over 50 and clinically vulnerable patients.