More than 130,000 in Portsmouth area have second Covid jab

The latest data from NHS England has shown a total of 137,359 second jabs were administered in Portsmouth Fareham, Gosport, Havant and East Hampshire by April 25.

And city officials say the uptake of the Covid vaccine is the main reason for a slow-down in infection rates, with 102,934 first doses and 34,811 second doses given out in Portsmouth so far.

Helen Atkinson, director of public health at Portsmouth City Council, encouraged people to keep booking appointments for their jabs.

She said: 'As the vaccination programme continues to expand into younger age groups it's been extremely positive to see more residents attending appointments and eager to get their jab to help protect themselves and others.

'Those aged 42 and over can now come forward and it's not too late for those in existing priority groups like carers, people with learning disabilities or those with health conditions that put them at extra risk from Covid-19. They can still receive the vaccine if they haven't had a chance to do so yet.

'We've also seen lots of people coming to get their second dose of the vaccine. This is really important as whilst the first dose provides a good level of protection, the second dose provides longer lasting protection. The same vaccine needs to be used for both doses.'

Council leader, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, said the authority was looking into 'inventive ways' to reach out to those who had missed vaccine appointments.

'The data that I see also looks at each of the at risk groups to see what percentage of people are taking up the vaccine,' he said.

'And although it's clearly the most successful vaccination programme we've ever had in this country there is still around 10 per cent of people in those high risk groups not having theirs. This puts them at risk as well as everyone around them.

'So I've been speaking with the government to see what we can do to connect with as many people as possible who have missed their appointments and find out what their concerns are.

'The most recent data also shows infection rates among older people are really low - so this shows the vaccines are working to keep the rates down.'

In Fareham 69,286 have had their first dose and 27,870 have had theirs.

In Gosport the figures were 45,305 and 17,577, and in Havant they were 75,794 and 31,188.

In East Hampshire 72,831 have had their first dose and 25,913 have had a second.

To book your vaccine visit nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or call 119.

Vaccine figures up to April 25

Portsmouth

First dose: 102,934

Second dose: 34,811

Havant

First dose: 75,794

Second: 31,188

Gosport

First dose: 45,305

Second dose: 17,577

Fareham

First dose: 69,286

Second dose: 27,870

East Hampshire

First dose: 72,831

Second dose: 25,913

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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