Covid vaccination: the number of Brummies jabbed one year on

It’s one year since 90 year-old Margaret Keenan became the first person to be vaccinated against coronavirus in the world-wide mass vaccination programme.

The NHS patient received the Pfizer jab at University Hospital Coventry on December 8 2020.

Since then  717,504 people aged 12 and over in Birmingham have received at least the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, figures up to December 4 from the UK coronavirus daily dashboard show.

That’s at least 66% of all people in the age group, based on the number of people on the National Immunisation Management Service.

Of them, 633,708 have also received a second dose – 58% – though 12 to 17-year-olds only became eligible for second jabs in recent weeks.

Across the UK, 51 million people have had their first jab and more than 46 million have received a second dose.

How is the booster jab programme running in Birmingham?

After launching at the end of last year, the vaccine rollout first targeted the most vulnerable and their carers, as well as healthcare workers, before moving down the adult age groups.

The NHS launched its booster jab campaign in September, after data showed falling levels of protection from symptomatic disease and hospital admission six months after people have had their second jab .

Data shows 237,758 people in Birmingham had received a booster jab or third dose of the coronavirus vaccine by December 4.

The UK Government marked one year since it became the first country in the world to approve Pfizer’s Covid vaccine with a "Boost Day" call on December 2.

It saw a series of adverts on TV and radio stations encourage eligible people to get their top-up jabs to protect themselves ahead of Christmas.

The call came amid concerns around the newly discovered Omicron variant – cases of which are continuing to emerge across the UK.

What have the NHS bosses said about the Vaccination programme?

Vaccines minister Maggie Throup said the Covid-19 vaccination programme – the largest in British history – has been "remarkable".

She added: "Booster jabs will protect the progress we have already made against the virus and help ensure we can enjoy Christmas safely with our loved ones.

"The offer of a first and second dose will always be available and I encourage everybody to come forward to protect yourself and those around you."

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, warned that although more than 96 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have already been given, providing protection to nine in 10 people, the emergence of the Omicron variant shows the pandemic "is far from over".

"Thanks to hard work of NHS staff and volunteers we have carried out almost two million vaccinations a week on average since the largest vaccination drive in NHS history began last December – with more sites delivering jabs across the country," he said.

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