Covid vaccines administered to 80% of Maidenhead
Over three-quarters of Maidenhead have now received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
The latest NHS figures released on May 9 show 61,024 people in Maidenhead have had their first dose of the vaccine - 80% of the town’s population.
This includes 13,194 people under 45 who have already received their first vaccination.
The data also shows that 26,574 people have now received their second vaccination, accounting for 34% of the population.
Across England, a third of people aged 16 and over have received their second vaccine dose.
Councillor Stuart Carroll, lead member for social care and health for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and member of the UK’s vaccine task force, said the vaccine rollout in the area has been “very, very successful”.
“We have seen a higher vaccine coverage than other parts of the country,” Cllr Carroll added.
“Just a couple of weeks ago we were already beginning to move into the over 40s group when other areas were still completing the vaccination programme in the over 50s group.
“We are now very much out of the traps in the over 36-year-old group, which is of course the next priority group.”
With the rollout of vaccines for over 36s beginning, local authorities are calling on anyone eligible to come forward.
Cllr Carroll stresses “it is vital to get vaccinated”.
“We’ve proven that we can defeat this virus, but we can only defeat it collectively,” he added.
“It requires everyone to play their part.”
Currently, the vaccine take-up in the area is 96%, higher than the South East’s estimated take-up of 91%.
As we get closer to the relaxation of restrictions on 21 June, many young people are eagerly awaiting their vaccinations.
Molly Fawcett, 20, a student from Belmont, currently studying biology at university, said: “I want to get the jab as soon as I can.
“Vaccination programmes are key to getting herd immunity and key for us to take control over the virus instead of just letting it spread and mutate.”
Anne Fokes, 77, from Burnham, who has now had both of her vaccinations says she feels “safer” now.
When speaking about the process, Anne said “it couldn’t have been better”.
However, misinformation about the vaccine is still rife online with a small minority of anti-vaxxers remaining.
Cllr Carroll explained that “it is normal to have concerns and doubts,” but “it is absolutely vital that people get their information from robust independent, valid and official sources”.
“The vaccines are incredibly safe and wonderfully effective,” he added.
In April the vaccine supply was deemed to be “very low”, however, Cllr Carroll reassures the public that the supply chain is now back to normal.
When asked whether we will all be vaccinated by the end of July, Cllr Carroll said “if the supply remains strong, then it does look feasible”.
