New statistics released yesterday have announced that 303,203 people in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System (ICS) – which includes the Gosport Constituency – have received a COVID-19 vaccination.
Gosport, MP, Caroline Dinenage, has welcomed the data which confirms that the region is continuing to step up its vaccination efforts to protect its most vulnerable residents and NHS staff. Since the 24th January, 75,804 more inoculations have been carried out. This represents 86.2% of those aged 75-79 and 92.7% of those over the age of 80.
Earlier in the week, Caroline commended NHS and volunteer staff on their work as it was confirmed that every care home in England had been offered COVID-19 vaccinations. In addition, in the House of Commons chamber in her role as Minister of State for Digital and Culture, she highlighted the important role that the vaccine has and the dangers of spreading disinformation, which undermines the fight against the deadly virus and exploits vulnerable residents.
This week, the Prime Minister held a press conference following the news that over 10.4 million people had received a jab in the UK, including 90% of those aged 75 and over in England. The country, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICS, remain on track to vaccinate the top 4 priority groups – who represent 88% of those who have sadly lost their life to COVID-19 – by mid-February.
Caroline commented:
“I am really pleased to see pace at which our brilliant healthcare workers and volunteers are continuing to vaccinate vulnerable residents in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Our fight against COVID-19 is far from over, but it is reassuring to know that our elderly and vulnerable constituents are getting the protection they need.
“We are starting to see a light at the end of a very long, dark tunnel as the Chief Medical Officer has confirmed we are past this peak. However, there is a long journey still ahead. We must continue to follow the guidance and stay at home where possible to ensure all this immense hard work does not go to waste and we can continue to see a downward trend in transmission and hospitalisations.”
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said:
“The UK’s vaccination programme is in full swing and almost 1 in 6 people across the UK are already protected from serious illness.
“The NHS is doing everything it can to protect the most vulnerable and will continue to expand the vaccination programme ever further in the coming weeks to save as many lives as possible.”
