One-in-20 over 80s in Rutland are still awaiting their first vaccine.

The Rutland Health Primary Care Network says it has now administered the first vaccination to 94.4% of patients aged over 80.

This compares with about 90 per cent of the a week ago, as Nub News previously reported as it also said it was contacting over 70s.

The Rutland Heath PCN now says it has also now vaccinated 50.1% of those aged 75-79, and 759 health and social care workers.

Health and social care workers are also being offered vaccination at NHS staff sites at the Leicester Hospitals.

In an update issued yesterday, the PCN said: "We are now continuing to book patients aged over 75 (cohorts 1-3). The supply of vaccine remains erratic and unpredictable, but we have had a delivery every week.

"Sometimes we are offered an extra delivery at very short notice when another site is unable to use it – if that happens we will offer the vaccine to eligible patients using our automated booking system that sends an SMS to your mobile phone (SMS Instructions).

"You can also use this link in a web browser on your computer or tablet. Our booking teams will telephone patients who do not have access to the automated booking systems and we will make sure that everyone eligible is invited.

"We hope to be able to start inviting patients in cohort 4 (aged over 70, and the clinically extremely vulnerable who have had a shielding letter from the government) in the first week of February, subject to vaccine delivery."

However, the PCN also warned: "There are unfortunately a number of scams circulating about the Covid Vaccination Programme. Our automated system looks like this: SMS Instructions.

The NHS will never ask for payment or bank details. More details on COVID Vaccine scams can be found here.

In the meantime, the PCN is calling for help from those who have friends or relatives who have mobility issues.

It has asked: "If you have a friend or relative who aged over 70 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.

The update added: "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."