MORE than 200,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Dorset so far - as the vaccination programme is extended to include people aged 65 to 69 from today.

In Dorset 201,211 jabs had been delivered as of February 7 - and NHS bosses say the county's vaccination programme has gone from 'strength to strength' since it began on December 8.

Volunteers and staff have been thanked by Dr Karen Kirkham, clinical lead for the Dorset Covid-19 vaccination programme, who described the achievement as "fantastic."

The milestone comes as those in the 65 - 69 age bracket, as well as the clinically vulnerable, are to start receiving their jabs from today - with over one million people across England having already been invited to book an appointment.

Across Dorset, volunteers and staff at vaccination services across the Dorset and Bournemouth Christchurch Poole Council areas have been joining forces to deliver the scheme – including at GP led hubs, pharmacies, hospital hubs, and roving teams for the housebound. Patients can choose which vaccination service to access.

Commenting on the milestone 200,000 jabs, Dr Karen Kirkham, local Dorset GP, and Clinical lead for the Dorset Covid-19 vaccination programme, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and I would like to thank everyone involved for their continued commitment."

Dr Kirkham thanked those giving the jabs on the front line, "through to the business and practice managers in the background making this enormous programme run smoothly; our dedicated volunteers who are helping on site, and everyone who has spent the last few months making the plans, which have seen us be able to vaccinate an unprecedented number of people in such a relatively short time.”

In the next phase, which will include 65-69 year olds, GP led vaccination sites will focus initially on the clinically vulnerable from cohort six because of the relationship between general practice and those with long term conditions, and continuity of care.

Letters are being sent out asking people to log on to the national booking service at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination

Anyone unable to book online can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.

Should somebody aged 65 to 69 want to wait to be called by their local GP vaccination service, or have already received the jab, they do not need to respond to their invitation.

What does 'clinically vulnerable' mean?

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) defines clinically vulnerable people as those with:

  • chronic respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis and severe asthma
  • chronic heart disease (and vascular disease)
  • chronic kidney disease
  • chronic liver disease
  • chronic neurological disease including epilepsy
  • Down’s syndrome
  • severe and profound learning disability
  • diabetes
  • solid organ, bone marrow and stem cell transplant recipients
  • people with specific cancers
  • immunosuppression due to disease or treatment
  • asplenia and splenic dysfunction
  • morbid obesity
  • severe mental illness

People aged 70 or over should contact the national booking service if they have not yet had the jab, while health and care workers should speak to their employers.

People who book into a vaccine centre will be greeted by volunteers who will marshal car parks and register them when they arrive.

They will receive a health status check and a pre-vaccination assessment before they have their jab.

Appointments are staggered to allow for social distancing and people who do book are being asked not to turn up early to avoid creating queues.

GPs are contacting those who are housebound to jab them at home.

Sir Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive said: “After a strong start the NHS vaccination programme, the biggest and fastest in Europe, is entering a new phase tomorrow.

“Thanks to the hard work of staff the NHS has protected more than 12 million of the most vulnerable people against Covid people in a matter of weeks.

“This is an exciting moment as we now move on to those aged 65 and over and the clinically vulnerable as part of our plan to vaccinate as many people as possible who can benefit from it.

“However, if you have already been offered a jab but have not taken it up it is not too late. Please come forward and help us to help you.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “The vaccination programme is continuing at an unprecedented speed and, as we’re on target to offer vaccines to all those in the first four priority groups by Monday, we are determined to keep up the momentum by expanding it even further.

“The NHS is doing everything it can to offer vaccines to the most vulnerable as quickly as possible, and today’s news will mean millions more at-risk individuals will be able to access a jab from next week.

“We will continue to accelerate the vaccination programme even further and I want to thank everyone in the NHS, volunteers and the armed forces for their tireless dedication.”

Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “The NHS is working tirelessly to protect our loved ones from this terrible virus and I’m delighted the majority of people who are most at risk have now been offered a vaccine.

“Every jab in the arm is another step closer to returning to normality in the future and that’s why we are now inviting the next priority group to book their appointments.

“If you are aged 65 and over, sit tight and you will be contacted by the NHS soon to book an appointment. I encourage everyone invited to book their jab as soon as they’re contacted, so they can protect themselves and others from the virus.”