More than 100,000 eligible people in north Cumbria have been now had a vaccination for COVID-19.
The NHS says 109,956 vaccinations have been given at hospital hubs and through our GP teams working together in Primary Care Networks.
The latest verified figures from NHS England published today show:
- 70,326 over-65s have had their first vaccine
- 35,178 under-65s have had their first vaccine
- 2,314 over-65s have had their second vaccine
- 2,138 under-65s have had their second vaccine
This means 92.9 per cent of the over-65 population in north Cumbria have had at least one
dose of the vaccine.
The majority of vaccinations have been delivered through the Primary Care Networks – groups of GP Practices working together.
This has involved GPs, practice nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, healthcare assistants and admin teams working together along with volunteers to deliver the vaccine, safely, locally and quickly.
It is working towards the national deadlines of all over-50s being offered their first vaccination by the middle of April and all adults by the end of July.
Dr Richard Massey is the GP lead for the Keswick and Solway Primary Care Network said: “There has been a phenomenal effort from all of our General Practice teams across north Cumbria.
“Practices have worked together to administer vaccines as quickly as we have had supplies delivered.
“We haven’t had many people refusing the vaccine, in fact it has been the opposite with people keen to get as quickly as they are eligible. It has been brilliant to be involved in a programme on this scale and one where people are so happy to be called.
“Thank you to all of our teams – whether they are GPs, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, admin teams, healthcare assistants or one of the many volunteers who have come forward and given up their time to help.
“Thank you to our patients who have followed the guidance, have turned up when they have been called, and in many ways been so enthusiastic and supportive.”
The vaccine supply is allocated nationally and sometimes PCNs get more than expected – and sometimes less than they would like, the PCN said and added all the vaccine supplied is delivered to patients as quickly as possible.
Ed Tallis is director of primary care for NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
He said: “This has really shown the best of the NHS and our communities working together. It has been a real team effort.
“We know it hasn’t been without its challenges, but on the 4th of December we hadn’t given a vaccine and by March 4 we have now delivered almost 110,000 vaccinations providing protection to more than a third of our population.
“We just ask that people remain patient. We’ll have called all of our over-50s for their first vaccine by the middle of April and all adults by the end of July.”
In north Cumbria there are two hospital hubs – concentrating largely on frontline health and social care staff.
They will now focus on delivering the second vaccine to those previously vaccinated there.
