One in five have now had two doses

ONE in five Derbyshire adults have now had both Covid-19 vaccine doses, while shortages continue to hit the number getting their first jabs.

The latest NHS England figures, to the week ending April 18, show that 574,390 Derbyshire residents have had their first Covid-19 vaccines and 166,850 county residents have had both doses.

The South Dales group of GP surgeries, which encompasses the Ashbourne vaccine rollout team, have already moved on to the under 50s and some under 45s are already getting their call-up for a jab.

The county’s overall figures represent 68.32 per cent (two in every three) and 19.85 per cent (one in every five) of Derbyshire’s adult population receiving vaccines.

On top of this, 96.09 per cent of everyone in Derby and Derbyshire aged 50 and above have now had a Covid jab, with more groups becoming eligible for vaccines.

Out of all of the Covid jabs administered in Derbyshire in the most recent week of data, 80 per cent were to people receiving their second doses and on the prospect of further immunity.

This is because vaccine shortages have led to no further first dose appointments being booked in April and the tail end of March.

Bookings were retained and most of these were for people who had made their slots for a second appointment 12 weeks ago. NHS England had also warned against booking any additional first-dose appointments and filing any vacant appointment slots.

As a result, far fewer residents are receiving vaccines while the number who are becoming fully vaccinated is surging. At the end of March more than 66,000 residents received their first jabs, but in the latest week this dropped to 11,555.

County health chiefs say fast vaccination is a key to delaying an expected third wave of the virus and suppressing the peak of that wave – meaning fewer cases and deaths.

● CORONAVIRUS infections in all Ashbourne’s electoral wards are still too low to measure, according to the latest Government data. All the areas surrounding the town have seen fewer than three cases, the point at which the government stops publishing data.