Covid vaccines booked for Somerset residents.

More than 30,000 local people have been contacted and invited for a Covid-19 vaccination by staff from Somerset’s five councils.

Since the opening of vaccination centres in the county, staff from Somerset County Council, Mendip District Council, Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset West and Taunton Council and South Somerset District Council have been working together contacting residents in the top nine priority groups offering them a vaccine appointment, to date they have been in touch with more than 30,000 residents. The latest data shows more than 310,378 vaccinations have been given in Somerset.

Staff have found the calls are well received with the majority of the public thankful of the opportunity to be vaccinated against the deadly virus.

Trudi Grant, Somerset County Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “I want to thank the many Council staff who left their day jobs and answered the call to help support the largest vaccination programme in history. Over 30,000 Somerset residents have been contacted and invited for a vaccine – an enormous feat. It has been a huge help working together and an honour to support the NHS.

“If we are to protect our community and stop the spread of this virus, we need to vaccinate at least 80% of our population as soon as possible. So, I urge you turn up for your appointment, and help protect yourself, your family and our society by having the vaccine when we offer it to you.”

People are reminded that the vaccine takes three weeks to give you protection from the virus and whilst it will help protect you from getting serious symptoms, you may still be able to catch Coronavirus and spread it to others – so continue to work from home where you can, socially distance in public and maintain the hands, space, face guidance.

Alison Wootton, joint senior responsible officer for the Somerset COVID Vaccination Programme, said: “We are truly grateful for the phenomenal support we have received for the vaccination programme across the county and the hundreds of local council staff, who have given up their time to help us to roll out our local NHS vaccination programme quickly and efficiently. 
“In just over sixteen weeks, with the support of all our colleagues, we have given an incredible 310,378 COVID-19 doses to our most vulnerable residents and front-line staff. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the programme so far, and to the teams who will continue to work with us over the coming weeks and months.”