High vaccine uptake as people ‘do the right thing’

COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Devon continues to be high, with more than 90% of over50s “seeing the need and importance” of being vaccinated.

Last Thursday’s Team Devon Local Outbreak Engagement Board meeting heard that Devon’s residents were continuing to “do the right thing” and take the coronavirus vaccine when it was their turn, and that health chiefs were ensuring that people have the opportunity to do so.

With everyone over 50 having been offered the opportunity to book a vaccine, those aged 45 to 49 are now being offered the chance, and Dr Paul Johnson, clinical chairman of the Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), told the meeting that booking slots were quickly filling up and all the capacity available was being used.

He told the board that, as well as the Pfizer and the AstraZeneca vaccines, the third approved vaccine for use in England, the Moderna vaccine, is now being rolled out in Devon. He said that, even though nationally there have been some concerns about blood clots linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine, the benefit of the getting the jab far outweighs any potential side-effects or risks.

Dr Johnson said: “The slots are filling up really quickly and we are using up all the capacity that we have, and it is a good news story as there is a sense of urgency and keenness to get the vaccine as we move into the lower age groups. Of the over-50s, over 90% see the need and importance of vaccination.

“We have the Moderna vaccine available now, as well as Pfizer and AstraZeneca, and we are still using AstraZeneca in line with the national guidance and our take is the benefit of being vaccinated far outweighs the potential side-effects, so the benefit outweighs the risk.”

He said that when the under-30s are called forward for vaccination, where an alternative vaccine is available they will be offered one, but said that if only AstraZeneca was on offer at that time or location, the under-30s will be offered it as “it is more important to be vaccinated than to put it on hold”.

Dr Johnson added that local NHS teams have begun using a bus to deliver the vaccines to deprived communities or those who are not engaging with the health system, and confirmed that 700 people had been offered and taken a vaccine this way who otherwise would not have done so.

He added: “People are doing the right thing to get the vaccine and we are doing what we can to give them the opportunity to take it.”

Cllr John Hart, leader of Devon County Council, said: “I want to encourage people to get vaccinated as the cases of blood clots are minute compared to the possibility of catching Covid and being ill.”

It comes as the latest figures show that two thirds of Devon’s adults have had one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, and nearly one in seven adults in Devon have had a second dose, with the position very similar in Cornwall.

The statistics, which provide the position as of April 11, show that there have been 1,186,586 vaccines delivered in the two counties, with 966,579 of them being a first dose.

In Devon, 654,261 people have had their first dose, with 144,591 of them having had a second dose, while in Cornwall, 312,318 people have had their first dose, with 75,416 a second dose.

In Devon, 65.5% of adults have had at least one vaccine dose, with 14.5% of adults having had a second dose, while, in Cornwall, 67.4% of adults have had one dose, with 16.3% having had their second dose as well.

The latest week to be measured saw the highest number of second doses ever administered in a sevenday period.