Wells MP James Heappey has urged people in the Wells constituency to get their booster jab, a year after the UK’s approval of the Pfizer vaccine.
Mr Heappey has welcomed the news that 35,784 people in Wells have received their Covid booster or third jab, as the Government and NHS continue to step up efforts to ensure that vulnerable people are protected against COVID-19 over the winter.
In 2020, the UK was the first country to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, allowing the life-saving vaccination programme to begin, starting with Margaret Keenan’s vaccination on 8 December.
The latest figures show that more than 115 million vaccine doses have been administered across the UK since then, with almost 51 million people having received at least one dose, and more than 46 million people having had two doses.
One in three adults have now already received their booster jab - more than any other country except for the USA and China.
This week, as a precaution considering the new Omicron variant, the Government has expanded the booster programme to all adults over 18 and announced that all eligible people will be offered a top-up jab by the end of January.
To speed up the vaccination programme, around 400 military personnel will be drafted in to support deployment, with 1,500 community pharmacy sites, additional hospital hubs, and pop-up sites opening in convenient locations across the country.
Mr Heappey said: “It is thanks to the incredible effort and success of the Government’s vaccination programme that more than 35,000 people in the constituency have received three Covid vaccine doses, which will offer life-saving protection to them and their loved ones this winter.
“I encourage all those who have not yet come forward to take up the offer of a vaccine. We are leading the way here in Somerset and I am in regular contact with the CCG and Somerset County Council to ensure this process is as successful as the first.”
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “I’m incredibly proud of our phenomenal COVID-19 vaccination programme. In under a year, we have administered more than 115 million doses across the UK, saving countless lives and giving us a powerful weapon to fight this devastating virus.
“The battle is not yet over, and we are working around the clock to boost the booster programme even further to maximise immunity following the emergence of the Omicron variant.
“It is absolutely crucial everybody comes forward for their vaccines and booster jabs as soon as you are eligible so we can strengthen our wall of defence against COVID-19 and enjoy Christmas safely with our families and loved ones this year.”
