More than 60% of Kent's top four priority groups have been vaccinated against Covid-19 - with hopes growing that all will receive jabs by February 15.

The government pledged to vaccinate the top four groups by mid-February, as part of the NHS's biggest immunisation programme in history.

It is estimated that in Kent and Medway, 411,000 people fall into these top groups - which comprise care home residents, healthcare workers, those aged over 70, and the clinically extremely vulnerable.

Figures released today by NHS England show that, as of January 31, nearly 260,000 people in the county had received their first jab.

However, the number of priority patients vaccinated is likely to be slightly lower, as this figure includes vaccines given to those such as teachers, who do not fall within the priority groups.

To reach the 411,000 target, about 78,000 jabs would need to be administered to priority patients in Kent, both this week and next.

But with about 83,000 jabs handed out in the final week of January alone, this appears to be an achievable target, so long as the vaccination programme keeps up pace - and that supplies are available.

Concerns have previously been raised over whether the supply can keep up with demand.

But speaking this week, several doctors in east Kent said they felt optimistic the February 15 target would be reached, providing there were no issues with the supply.

As of yesterday, about 67% of Whitstable's more than 10,000 priority patients had received their first Covid-19 jab.

But leading town GP, Dr John Ribchester said: "Assuming deliveries happen like they're supposed to, by close of play on Saturday 13, we'll have vaccinated all of groups one to four."

Meanwhile, GP Jeremy Carter said the roll-out is also going "very well" in Herne Bay.

"We're in the last two weeks before the February 15 target, by which time in Herne Bay we're confident we'll have given the vaccine to everyone in the top four priority groups that want it," he said.

"As long as we get the vaccine that we need next week, I'm confident we'll do that."

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