Region 'on target' to offer Covid vaccines to four most vulnerable groups by mid-February

And the second vaccines will start to be administered in the second week of February as there is a "stockpile", it has been revealed.

It comes after it was revealed more than three-quarters of people aged 80 and over in the Black Country and west Birmingham have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

NHS data shows 127,845 people had been given their first jab by January 24.

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Of those, 49,970 were aged 80 or over ­– equating to 78 per cent of the population in that age group, according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

In Staffordshire 130,636 people had been given their first jab by January 24, and 52,389 were aged 80 or over ­– equating to 86 per cent of the population in that age group.

Sally Roberts, chief nurse for Black Country and West Birmingham CCGs, said they are on plan to offer the four groups vaccines by mid-February.

She said: “Across the Black Country and West Birmingham the latest validated data suggest that we have vaccinated around 78 per cent of our over 80 year-olds.

"We are on plan to offer the vaccine to the first four cohorts (as per JCVI guidance) by mid February.”

Across England, 2,261,407 people aged 80 and over had received their first dose of the vaccine, covering 80 per cent of the age group, although the dosage figure includes a small number with registered addresses in Scotland or Wales.

People aged 80 and over are in one of four priority groups which Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged will be offered a vaccination by the middle of February.

Vulnerable

The other groups include those aged over 70, frontline health and care workers and the extremely clinically vulnerable.

Professor David Loughton has revealed that second jabs are set to start in the second week of February.

Prof Loughton said: "As I understand it there is a stockpile somewhere of the second vaccination, and I'm reliably informed that people who are due for their second vaccination will get it during the allotted time period."

Adding that the vaccine roll out in the region was going "really well", he said: "But the facts are that it will be vaccine supply that is the limiting factor about how far we can go."

He said that with a fourth vaccine set to be released "the supply is getting better all the time", and that primary care networks across the region were doing excellent work in making sure people in all communities were reached.

"Providing we get the vaccines I am confident that across the whole of the West Midlands conurbation we will be able to deliver for the mid-February target," he said.

Clive Wright, Covid regional convenor, said: "By comparison with other regions in the country the West Midlands is doing really well.

"Providing supplies are there we will meet those targets."

The data also shows 77,875 people aged between 16 and 79 across the Black Country and west Birmingham had received a first vaccination dose.

It means 12 per cent of people aged 16 and over living in the area have received their first jab.

In Staffordshire 14 per cent of people, or 78,247 of those aged between 16 and 79 had received a first vaccination dose.

The Government's plan to provide vaccinations at more than 2,500 locations across England should ensure everyone will be within 10 miles of a centre.

Vaccinations are currently being given in major hospitals, pharmacies and newly-set-up centres such as football stadiums and out-of-town parking areas.

This is on top of more than 1,000 local vaccinations services in surgeries, community centres and churches.

After the first dose of the vaccine, people should receive a follow-up jab within 12 weeks, according to current guidance.

Across the Black Country and west Birmingham, 10,433 people had received their second dose by January 24, including 8,449 people aged 80 and over. In Staffordshire the figure was 12,665, including 9,684 people aged 80 and over.