Thousands more receive life-saving Covid-19 jabs in city

Thousands more life-saving Covid-19 jabs have been given in Wolverhampton – with increasing numbers of people having now received both doses.

Latest figures show 118,597 first doses have been administered in Wolverhampton, with tens of thousands of people also having now returned for their second jab.

People aged 45 and over, anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, 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 had their first Covid-19 jab is asked to do so as a matter of urgency, with the City of Wolverhampton Council and the Black Country and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group writing to eligible people who haven’t yet booked a jab inviting them to get in touch to arrange an appointment.

People are also reminded of the need to get their second dose when it is their time so that they are given the maximum protection against the deadly virus.

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

“Nearly 120,000 people in Wolverhampton have now had at least one dose, and more and more people have had both. This is particularly important, as the second vaccine acts as a booster, enhancing immunity and offering longer-lasting protection against infection.

"We know that the easing of restrictions as we leave the Covid-19 lockdown will very likely lead to an increase in infection rates so, if you haven't already and you are now eligible for it, please get your jab as soon as possible.

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.

John added: “Please remember that even once you have had both doses of the vaccine, you must still continue to adhere to the measures in place to stop the spread of Covid-19, and follow the Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air guidance. Please also make sure you have a regular Covid-19 rapid test.”

For details of rapid testing for people without symptoms of Covid-19, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus-testing. 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, which includes information in a wide range of languges and guidance around staying safe during Ramadan. Further details of the restrictions currently in place, and the answers to frequently asked questions, are available at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/covidalert.