More than half of people over 80-years-old in Hertfordshire have received their first coronavirus jab, it has been revealed.

Jim McManus, the county’s director of public health, released figures about the rollout of the vaccine in Hertfordshire during a Covid-19 press briefing on Friday morning.

He said 70 per cent of Hertfordshire residents aged 80 or over have had their first dose of vaccine (43,047 people), while 23 per cent of Hertfordshire residents aged 75-79 have now had their first dose (9,243).

A total of 59 per cent of NHS and social care staff have also had their first dose, Mr McManus said.

It comes after NHS England provisional figures revealed a total of 4,740,578 Covid-19 vaccinations had taken place in England between December 8 and January 20, including first and second doses.

Of this number, 4,303,730 were the first dose of the vaccine, while 436,848 were the second dose.

Watford Observer: A patient receives a Covid vaccine at Robertson House in Stevenage. Credit: PAA patient receives a Covid vaccine at Robertson House in Stevenage. Credit: PA

NHS England provisional figures also show that across Hertfordshire and west Essex, 115,304 people were vaccinated between December 8 and January 17, including first and second doses.

Dr Nicolas Small, GP board chair of Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group said: “This is the biggest vaccination programme the NHS has ever undertaken, and NHS staff have done an incredible job in vaccinating many thousands of vulnerable patients in local vaccination sites across our area in a number of weeks. Our local GP-run services are also vaccinating care homes residents and staff and we are making good progress.”

While there is a mass Covid-19 vaccination centre in Robertson House in Stevenage, there are also several vaccination sites in the Watford area, including:

  • Watford Health Centre for practices in Watford town centre
  • Sheepcot Surgery for practices in North Watford
  • Colne Surgery for practices in Rickmansworth and Chorleywood
  • Bridgewater House for practices in Watford and Garston
  • Allum Hall in Borehamwood for practices in Hertsmere

Three community pharmacies in Borehamwood, St Albans and Hemel Hempstead are also now offering people the coronavirus vaccine.

Covid-19 vaccinations are only available by appointment, either following an invitation from a person’s own GP practice or a letter enabling someone to choose to use the national booking system. 

Currently the vaccine is being offered to people who live or work in care homes, people aged 80 and over, NHS front line staff and people over 70.

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