The Isle of Wight is not lagging behind in the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine and, if anything, the Island is ‘doing better’ than Hampshire, according to a senior health official.
More than 207,000 people have now received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, with a further 20,366 having received their second dose. That means 85.1% of the region’s 80+ population have now been vaccinated with the first dose and 16.3% with the second, offering full protection.
It’s estimated that there are 1,495,013 people aged 16+ across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, meaning 13.84% of the 16+ population have received at least 1 vaccine dose to date.
Figures for just the Isle of Wight, which would give a better indication of the Island’s immunity, have not been revealed.
Locally, 4 vaccination sites and the hub at St Mary’s Hospital have been open for the past few weeks to distribute doses of the vaccine to Islanders. A larger vaccination centre at Newport’s Riverside Centre is due to open as early as next week.
Dr Michele Legg, chair of the Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group, has said the centres have been working ‘extremely well’, following the government guidance on whom to vaccinate, starting with care home patients and staff and they are on track to complete that in the designated time frame.
Further cohorts of people will now start to receive the vaccine as centres work through the categories — some areas, however, are at different stages.
Dr Legg explained all practices on the Island have been allocated the same number of doses to give to their patients, meaning smaller practices with fewer patients will be further through their cohort than a bigger practice with more people registered.
Speaking at a meeting of the Isle of Wight Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board, Dr Legg said the Solent, or the Island factor has not left the Isle of Wight lagging behind in the vaccination programme. She said: “if anything we are doing better than surrounding areas”.
Dr Legg has urged for those who have been vaccinated to remain cautious and follow the COVID safety measures as it is not yet clear as to whether the vaccinations stop the transmission of the potentially deadly virus altogether.
This article has been produced by the Local Democracy Reporter with additional statistical reporting from Island Echo
I’m pleased so many people are getting the jab, but why are they offering jabs to the disabled elderly and not doing their carers at the same time.
Shanklin medical center have offered my parents the vaccine but not me, there official carer. It seems logical to me to do us at the same time.
because they are discriminating against you based on age and lack of a disability
All the people needing there second jab will not be getting it thanks to the EU.
Says who ??
Incorrect information you are posting. Don’t be an asshole!!!!!!
How many vaccinations on the IOW?
20,000 second vaccinations? What has happened to the 12 week gap to allow more first vaccinations to be given?
And why has it taken so long to get the Riverside up and running.
Also all this talk of GP surgeries getting vaccines, when and where?
Why are so many people whinging about pathetic insignificant things. The country is doing a fantastic job so far in giving people the jab. Surely this constant whining must be due to complete stupidity and having nothing else in their lives to concentrate on.