I have received this update today on the Covid-19 Vaccine Deployment programme nationally. In Wokingham, the programme is proceeding on schedule and constituents should wait to be contacted about when they will receive the vaccine.
Dear John,
We are writing to you to update you on the latest important developments on our deployment of COVID-19 vaccines.
We are delighted that by the end of 1 February, 9,646,715 people in the UK have been given their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination. We have now vaccinated almost 9 in 10 over 80s.
We set the ambitious target of offering a vaccine to all eligible elderly care home residents and by the end of January we met that target. This is an incredibly important step in the fight against this terrible virus. Elderly care home residents were rightly prioritised because they are the most at risk and we have done everything we can to protect them.
There are a small number of care homes who have not been able to get vaccinated due to an outbreak, but all elderly care homes where it is clinically appropriate have now been offered the first dose of the vaccine.
This is the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history. It has been a huge national effort, bringing together the NHS family, primary care networks, hospitals and the tens of thousands of amazing volunteers.
Looking ahead, our vaccine supply and scheduled deliveries mean we are on track to offer vaccinations to all those in JCVI priority cohorts 1-4 by 15 February. While meeting this target is a challenge, we are on track to meet it.
The latest statistical release for England can be found at the link below, and we are committed to publishing more granular data, as soon as is feasibly possible.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-vaccinations/
Despite this success we know our NHS continues to be under serious pressure. So, it is vital that we all continue to follow the rules: stay home, protect the NHS, save lives.
Yours ever,
MATT HANCOCK
NADHIM ZAHAWI
February 3, 2021
Yes – thank you – our Jabs went well!
In and out of the Bradbury Centre in less than 15 minutes for both of us.
February 3, 2021
“United Kingdom of Brexit”.
That’s how some French see us successfully vaccinating unlike EU.
February 3, 2021
Government: Brexit provides Northern Ireland with tremendous opportunities.
Also government: Can we delay these tremendous opportunities until at least 2023 because they are causing immense problems.
February 3, 2021
Why couldn’t you say something positive about the vaccines. It’s really beyond you to see anything good about your own country. You are truly a pathetic sad individual.
February 3, 2021
Andy, It is the EU which is causing the immense problems, not Brexit. If we had had a full British Brexit which protected the integrity of the UK single market, there would be no problem between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. It is, as usual, the Remain parts of the T&CA which cause trouble.
February 4, 2021
Indeed Nick. Boris made a mess of it as expected.
February 3, 2021
Good, but to save maximum lives they should certainly be vaccinating men about 5 years younger than women. This is the way to use the limited vaccines to maximum effect, to save perhaps hundreds of extra lives and save thousands more hospital admissions. Hard to take the JCVI remotely seriously, all those professors and PhDs yet they have not even worked this basic fact from the stats. This when hundred of peoples lives rest on it. They are certainly not following logic and science here.
Meanwhile MPs even have a minutes silence for just one sad death. Is not saving hundreds of other lives rather more important? It seems not – MPs prefer virtue signalling rather than saving hundred of lives. MATT HANCOCK and NADHIM ZAHAWI must take action on this now or they should be fired. It is not too late yet to save many of these lives. Any sensible numerate person be able to confirm the logic to them.
February 3, 2021
Well done to your local providers.
However, we are all being implored to ‘stay home’ which some of us are doing, sacrificing family lives, businesses, time with dying people and yet 10,000 are coming into the UK each day by air – why? WHY are they just freely travelling around, who are they? Don’t say 10,000 people per day are medical staff or on business (what business?) What are they doing? some are coming in from South Africa via Qatar. The Sun tells us “able to head off with no additional checks”. Why are we allowing Qatar to forward people here from S Africa and why don’t we just put people back on their flights and let Qatar deal with it?
Several are arriving without a test how? How many airlines have been fined the £2000 to pay for the hotel we’ll have to put them up in?
If this covid variant does get out and the vaccine is not sufficient protection against it, don’t Hancock and Boris realise they will be accountable this time. I want to know if people in my town, potentially in my local food stores are off these planes in the last ten days. Who is policing this, are their phone locations being checked. If they don’t want this level of quarantine then don’t come here, the same as the IOM, NZ, Australia and the French have stopped Brits.
February 3, 2021
Co-ordinated, national, but devolved bodies such as the NHS are needed for this sort of action, and this shows what can be done by them – they are to be warmly commended.
Contrast this with the failures of the preventative measures such as testing, tracing, and isolation, which were hived off to for-profit inexperienced entities.
The differences are towering.
The Anglo-American doctrine does not embody resilience.
It should be abandoned by responsible countries.
February 3, 2021
Martin, Wrong. As usual. The vaccines are being manufactured by private businesses. Not the NHS. And not the EU.
February 4, 2021
To be as imprecise as you are wrt MiC, I would point out that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was developed by scientists at the University of Oxford and not by AstraZeneca, so not a private business. I know, it is completely O/T but not more than you pointing out the manufacturing when MiC was talking distribution by the NHS.
Do you sometimes read the original comments before (angrily) responding?
February 3, 2021
Can only comment that others who we know who have received the vaccine locally (Wokingham/Woodley/Earley) have said that the Centres have been very well organised, with no waiting or crowding.
Due to have mine next week, having been contacted yesterday.
Seems to be well run Nationally, and limited only by the vaccine supply, credit to the Government where it is due for putting the right people, in the right places for this operation.
Did I hear correctly at the last National briefing, that test and trace is now working successfully at 95% for contacts
February 3, 2021
Is lockdown going to be the governments tool of choice in subsequent years.
It appears that we are on the planet to protect the NHS.
My understanding was that the organisation received billions of pounds and employed staff in numbers second only to the Chinese army in a bid to protect us.
If less was spent on cosmetic surgery, gender realignment and other non core treatments it could probably withstand the flu season.
You won’t be allowed to get away with it again
February 3, 2021
We keep being told how well our vaccinations are going, but I am confused. Hancock says “by the end of 1 February, 9,646,715 people in the UK have been given their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination. We have now vaccinated almost 9 in 10 over 80s.” But the total population over 80 is 3.37 million (at least, it was in 2019 according to this website: https://www.statista.com/statistics/281174/uk-population-by-age/ I don’t suppose it has changed hugely since then). So how come, after having vaccinated almost 10 million people we still haven’t vaccinated ALL the over-80s, who represent around a third of this number? Indeed, this number of vaccinated people should represent all the over-70s! Can someone please explain?
Reply They are vaccinating other categories early
February 3, 2021
Some over 80’s don’t have transport and want to be vaccinated at home or in their GPS surgery. In our area those people are still being vaccinated but at a slower rate. Meanwhile our area has started on over 70’s and those with underlying health conditions. After a slow start in Shropshire they are really organised now and we are very impressed.
February 4, 2021
I live in St. Albans now, and I was called for my first dose on December 18th. No particular vulnerabilities, except age. I felt very lucky to have been called so soon.
Frankly, Ive got nothing but praise for those who administer this task. Who, among us, would want to be faced with such a task.
It may seem haphazard at times, but I’m sure everyone will be called eventually. The government will be criticised whatever they do. No one is perfect.
February 3, 2021
Maybe people are refusing vaccinations at a great rate?
February 3, 2021
London Nick, I know of some NHS staff who have been vaccinated (one at least with two doses – so probably more). The over 70s are being invited now in our area.
February 4, 2021
I agree with NHS staff, carers, dentists, close contact workers in vulnerable age categories getting their vaccine first. Many over 70s are staying in, staying safe anyway. However, it is puzzling why young council workers working from home are getting a Pfizer vaccine (that the EU are telling us all is more superior) when the over 70’s in that area are getting the AZ one.
February 4, 2021
There are many ex-pats and foreign nationals registered here with the NHS. They are currently trapped abroad and are not in a position to take up their offer of vaccination. They normally fly in and out of the UK for treatment. I know many people who do this.
February 3, 2021
My wife gets her jab on Friday, aged 62 with only a slight underlying health problem. It being done at the Sunderland nightingale hospital . She could have waited to get it done by her GP, but we opted to get it done ASAP, thank you Boris and the NHS.
February 4, 2021
As a question is it possible for someone who isn’t registered with a GP to get vaccinated?
At the moment I don’t believe it is.
When I volunteered for citizens advice a lot of the clients I worked with simply didn’t have a GP and yet they can still get the disease and pass it on.
February 4, 2021
I would like to see verifiable evidence, witnessed by qualified people outside of government, that Boris and his various advisors have had the vaccine. If nor why not?
February 8, 2021
“SAGE scientists also warned it was “very possible” the South African variant is already quite widespread in the UK with hints more restrictions could be needed.” Dr Mike Tildesley, an infectious disease expert who advises the government, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “it’s very possible” the South Africa variant could already be quite widespread in the UK. He added there were “significant implications” if it was the case that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was less effective against the South Africa variant, as it may mean “more restrictions might be needed for longer”.
Your government is absolutely ‘taking the mick’ keeping airports open, 10,000 + people per day, not tracking how this new varient is spreading yet you supposedly know there are ‘a surge of cases of the South African variant’. Then we’re told the vaccine only has 10% protection against this variant – what the hell are you all doing? I know you realise how absolutely fed up people are now John, if something isn’t done soon do you really believe everyone can stay locked down till May (except for all these spreading the S African variant around – who are they?)
February 12, 2021
Can you explain why Wokingham is so slow in rolling out the vaccination program ? I have relatives and friends living in Kent whom are in the age range 65-70 (not clinically vulnerable) who had their vaccinations last week. We do seem to be lacking in vaccination centres in the area.
Reply Wokingham has completed over 70s ahead of national schedule and is now offering appointments to the next cohort. Expect a call soon if you 65-70.