Nearly 55,000 now have maximum protection against Covid-19

Nearly 55,000 Wolverhampton residents now have maximum protection against Covid-19 after receiving both doses of their life-saving vaccine.

Latest figures show 54,384 people have had both doses, while 130,264 residents have had at least one jab – with a total of 184,648 vaccines now delivered in the city.

People aged 40 and over, or who turn 40 by 1 July, anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, people with learning disabilities, frontline health and social care workers and people who are in receipt of Carer's Allowance or are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person are now eligible for the free vaccine.

Anyone in the above groups who has not yet booked their first Covid-19 jab should do so as a matter of urgency through the national booking website, www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine, through their GP or by emailing vaccinationsupport@wolverhampton.gov.uk to book an appointment at a local clinic.

John Denley, Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health, said: “The vaccine is the best protection we have against coronavirus, particularly once people have had both doses.

“It’s great news that nearly 55,000 people have now had both their first and their second doses; this is incredibly important as your second jab acts as a booster, enhancing your immunity and offering longer-lasting protection against infection.

"Evidence also suggests that a single dose of the vaccine can cut transmission to others by up to half. So by getting your jab, you are not only helping to protect yourself, but also your family and the wider community.

"While infection rates are comparatively low, as restrictions are eased further later this month there is the chance that they could increase. We have seen before just what can happen when the virus starts to spread more rapidly and we cannot afford to let our guard down.

"So please get your Covid-19 vaccine as soon as you are able to and remember that, even after you have had your jab, you should get a regular rapid Covid-19 test to reassure yourself that you don't have the virus. You must also continue to follow the Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air guidance – wash your hands regularly, wear a face covering, stay two metres from people you don't live with and spend more time outdoors."

For more information about the vaccine, including the answers to frequently asked questions, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/vaccine or www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination. People will need to register with a GP surgery in England in order to receive the vaccine. For more details, please visit www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps.

For details of rapid testing for people without symptoms of Covid-19, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/get-tested. Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19, which include a fever, a new continuous cough or a change to the sense of taste or smell, must immediately self-isolate and book a PCR test by visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or calling 119.

The latest information and guidance around coronavirus is available at www.gov.uk/coronavirus and on the council’s own coronavirus pages at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus. Further details of the restrictions currently in place, and the answers to frequently asked questions, are available at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/covidalert.