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How long will it take to vaccinate Kent? Rates show one million people waiting for coronavirus jab in Kent and Medway

Almost third of adults in Kent have received their first Covid vaccine dose.

And at the current rate seen in the county, it could take another 88 days for the remaining one million adults to get a jab.

A total of 84,000 people received their first vaccine in Kent last week
A total of 84,000 people received their first vaccine in Kent last week

Analysis of NHS figures carried out by KentOnline estimate May 13 could be the date when every adult in the county has received at least one vaccine dose.

The latest data shows 83,965 people were given their first vaccine across Kent and Medway in the week to February 14.

This is equal to 11,995 per day.

Just under 2,000 people received their second dose during the week.

The numbers include all jabs administered at the three active mass vaccine centres – Folkestone, Tonbridge and Gravesend – during that period and all GPs and pharmacy settings.

At current weekly levels, it would take 88 days for the NHS to vaccinate every remaining adult in Kent
At current weekly levels, it would take 88 days for the NHS to vaccinate every remaining adult in Kent

Figures published by NHS England confirm 430,752 people in Kent and Medway have received their first dose.

The data also shows 25,158 have received their second jab.

The county's estimated adult population is 1.4 million, according to Office of National Statistics (ONS).

At last week's rate of 11,995 per day it will take 88 days from February 14 for all those to receive their first dose – bringing us to May 13.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set a target to ensure all adults across the country receive their first dose by July 31.

With capacity increasing thanks to the opening of the county's fourth mass vaccine site in Ramsgate which opened on Monday and the upcoming fifth centre dedicated for Medway, vaccine rates could continue to increase.

The test facing the NHS will be to ensure vaccine supplies are steady and maintain or improve the existing rate of vaccination to allow expansion to more vaccine cohorts faster.

In comparison, the week ending February 7 showed 90,028 people received their first doses (12,861 per day) and the week to January 31 there were 83,075 people (11,867 per day) to have the jab for the first time.

The next round of data which will include all vaccinations given in Kent and Medway this week will be published on Thursday.

It comes as all but one area in the county saw rising rates of Covid infections in the past week, figures published today reveal.

Meanwhile the NHS is urging people who have had a Covid-19 vaccination to continue to stay at home and observe social distancing rules.

Chief nurse at Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group Paula Wilkins, said: “We are making really good progress with the vaccination roll out and the number of people coming forward to have their Covid vaccine is very encouraging. However, it does not provide instant immunity, it won’t protect your loved ones and it won’t solve the pandemic immediately.

“It is vitally important to get the vaccine as we know it prevents serious disease, reduces deaths and will relieve the pressure on the NHS, but unfortunately we don’t yet know if it prevents transmission of the virus. That means people who have been vaccinated could be carrying the virus without having any symptoms and they could pass it on to others.”

Across the country the first vaccine dose have been given to 12.6 million people.

In Kent and Medway, vaccinations are being carried out at 55 sites including four large vaccination centres in Gravesend, Folkestone, Tonbridge and Thanet, seven pharmacies, six hospital hubs and 39 GP-led sites.

The NHS is currently offering the Covid-19 vaccine to people aged 65 to 69 and those who are 16 to 64 who have an underlying health condition and are therefore classed as clinically vulnerable. People in these cohorts will be sent a letter inviting them to book a vaccination and should wait to hear from the NHS.

Those aged 70 and over and those on the clinically extremely vulnerable list who have not yet been contacted for a vaccine should book an appointment online at www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination. If they cannot access the internet, they can call 119 to book. Patients can also contact their GP but phone lines are likely to be busy.

Ms Wilkins added: “This is the biggest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS and we firmly believe it is the way out of the pandemic but we all need to be patient. Once more of the population has been vaccinated, we can look forward to restrictions being lifted and hopefully meeting up with friends and family but for the time being, we are urging people to continue to follow the government guidance.”

For more information on the rollout click here.

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent

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