Two thirds of over-50s in Staffs have had 3 Covid jabs
MORE than two-thirds of people aged 50 across Staffordshire have received a Covid-19 booster jab.
Some 334,255 adults in the age group across the area had been given a booster or third dose of the coronavirus vaccine by December 5, the latest NHS England figures show.
That’s at least 69% of people in that age group, based on the number who are registered locally with the NHS – up from 61% a week earlier.
The vaccine rate is an estimate as NHS registrations may overestimate the population, meaning the percentage of people with a booster could be higher.
Top-up doses of the Covid-19 vaccine are seen as critical to defending the nation against the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant of the virus.
This is because the protection provided by a first or second jab decreases over time, referred to as “waning immunity”.
Launched in September, the booster campaign was initially for people aged 50 and over, care home residents, frontline health and social care workers, those at higher risk of severe Covid-19 and some people living with them. But the NHS has now extended the programme to all those aged 40 or over and halved the waiting time between a second and third jab from six to three months.
And people can book their booster jab a month in advance – two months on from their second dose. The figures show a further 58,072 people under the age of 50 in Staffordshire had received an extra dose by December 5.
The Government has said that everyone aged 18 and over in England will be offered an additional shot in the arm by the end of December. NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said staff continue to work ‘flat out’ to protect their communities and are once again working to expand the vaccine roll-out.
She added: “There is a lot we do not know about the Omicron variant but experts believe that even if existing vaccines are less effective they will give protection. So I would urge anyone eligible to come forward as soon as possible, and to keep checking for appointments in their area.”
The NHS also provides data on how many domiciliary care staff – often referred to as home care workers – have received a first and second dose of the vaccine.
In early November, the Government announced frontline health and social care workers – including those providing home care – would have to be double jabbed to be able to work.
The rules will come into force next April, although that includes a 12-week ‘grace period’ after the deadline. Some 5,421 staff working for domiciliary care providers in Staffordshire had received a second vaccine dose by December 5.
That’s 78% of staff for which data was available, the same as the average across England. But it was only slightly higher than 75% four weeks earlier on November 7, just before the rules were announced.
The data includes workers from independent care providers registered with the Care Quality Commission, of which 93% across England provided data on second doses up to December 5.
The Homecare Association, which represents domiciliary care providers, said it strongly supported the vaccination programme.
But the group’s chief executive Dr Jane Townson said “bullying” staff who hadn’t already been double jabbed wasn’t going to get them over the line by next April.