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More than 5 million vaccinated against coronavirus in Midlands

More than five million people across the Midlands have now received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

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SOUTH COPYRIGHT SHROPSHIRE STAR JAMIE RICKETTS 02/02/2021 - Ludlow Vaccination Centre opens at Ludlow Racecourse. In Picture: First person to have their vaccine - Malcom Bunn.

The Midlands has vaccinated more people with their first dose than any other region in England – leading the way in vaccinating the most vulnerable in the area.

The NHS administered 5,034,045 first doses in the Midlands between December 8 and March 28 – and 477,985 second doses.

While more than half of all adults in the Black Country and West Birmingham have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine,

Sally Roberts, chief nursing officer for the NHS Black Country and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), said: “It is a truly extraordinary achievement to have vaccinated half of our region’s adults in barely three months.

“This vaccination programme has been on a scale like nothing any of us has seen before and I am immensely proud of all the colleagues who have pulled together to make this happen.

“This has been a true team effort across the Black Country and West Birmingham system. From the vaccine team and hospitals who made sure our frontline workers are protected and the GPs who were at the forefront of getting the vaccine out into communities, to the public health teams who helped promote the importance of vaccination and not forgetting the community organisations who offered their premises and their volunteers to support this crucial work.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “The Midlands is leading the way in vaccinating those most at risk, with over five million people getting their first dose – more than any other region in England.

“Local NHS teams have worked incredibly hard to ensure the most vulnerable from Covid-19 are given the protection they need and I am grateful to all those who have played a part in these monumental efforts.

“Covid-19 vaccines have saved thousands of lives in the UK and I urge everyone eligible to get their appointment booked as soon as possible.”

More than 30 million people in total across the UK have now been vaccinated with a first dose, while 3,674,266 have had both doses.

Statistics published by NHS England on Monday show the number of first and second doses that have been administered across the country by region.

Data from the Public Health England (PHE) real-world study shows that both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines are highly effective in reducing Covid-19 among older people aged 70 years and over.

The country is already seeing a significant impact from the vaccination programme on reducing hospitalisations and deaths, with 6,100 deaths prevented in those aged 70 and older in England up to the end of February.

Vaccines are available free of charge and from thousands of vaccine centres, GP practices and pharmacies, and the NHS wants everyone to take up the offer of an appointment when they are invited – all those 50 and over can book a jab now.

Around 98 per cent of people live within 10 miles of a vaccination centre in England, which includes Millennium Point in Birmingham, Derby Arena and Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium.

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