Over 65s in Milton Keynes will begin receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations from today (15/2) onwards.
This comes as the Government has hit its ambitious target of administering 15 million vaccinations by mid-February.
The Government has managed to offer vaccinations to everybody in the top four priority groups, which covers those from age 70 to 85 plus, health and social care workers, and the clinically extremely vulnerable.
Now that the most vulnerable groups have been vaccinated, the Government is moving on to group five (over 65s).
Letters are being sent out inviting eligible residents to book their free vaccination slot(s) administered by NHS professionals.
One MKFM listener received their letter on Saturday morning (13/2), went online to book their slot, and will be receiving their first dose on Sunday (21/2) and their second dose at the start of May.
The Government is aiming to offer a vaccine to the 17 million in groups five to nine by the end of April, something that will be done alongside administering second doses for many in the first four groups.
"There is a huge programme under way rolling out to invite the next group of people to be vaccinated and, at the same time, from next month we have the second jabs of all the people who have come since January to make sure they happen on time, because they have to be within a specific 12-week time period," the health secretary said.
So far, one in ten people in Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire have had the COVID-19 vaccine.
88% of people over the age of 80 in Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire have had the first dose, and 95% of 75 to 79-year-olds have had theirs.
32,000 people were vaccinated in local hospitals, GP surgeries, and vaccination centres in the past week alone.
It is expected to ramp up to 52,000 jabs per week soon as the Mayor of Bedford previously revealed that there is the "capacity" to do so.
The priority list for vaccines is as follows:
1 - Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
2 - All those aged 80 and over. Frontline health and social care workers
3 - All those aged 75 and over
4 - All those aged 70 and over. Clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
5 - All those aged 65 and over
6 - All individuals aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
7 - All those aged 60 and over
8 - All those aged 55 and over
9 - All those aged 50 and over
