More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
The number of people who have been double jabbed in Kent has risen significantly to almost 800,000 after the highest number of Covid vaccines since March were administered in the county during the first week of June.
In the week ending June 6, 104,585 doses went into arms, which is the most since the vaccination rollout peaked in the week ending March 23 when 121,745 were given out.
The vast majority were second doses, which made up 81,162 of those administered – up from 65,398 the week before – and bringing the total of those double jabbed in the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group area to 792,103.
With second doses being prioritised, there was a drop in first doses from 32,052 the previous week to 23,423.
The leap in people becoming fully vaccinated has pushed up the percentage of those to receive both doses in each area of Kent significantly.
Where the number of people vaccinated would usually rise by a few percent in each area, this week the highest rise was seen in Tonbridge and Malling where 8% more of the population got their second jab.
Overall, Thanet (81%) and Sevenoaks (80%) have the highest percentage of people with the first jab and Folkestone and Hythe (63%) and Thanet (63%) the highest percentage of fully vaccinated people.
With under 30s being invited to get their vaccines, it's likely they will drive up the first dose numbers in the coming weeks.
Due to the massive success of the vaccine programme, only two deaths have been recorded in the last month.
However, the Health Secretary has suggested eased restrictions planned for June 21 may be postponed if the data shows cases are rising too quickly.
Face mask wearing and working from home where possible may be extended into the long term even after 'Freedom Day' when all social restrictions will be eased.
Currently, cases are rising in Kent and Medway as 402 were recorded in the last week – 101 more than the week prior.
Cases also rose by 41% on the week ending May 28 and on the week ending June 4, the 33.6% rise brought the overall infection rate up to 21.6.
However, cases vary widely across the county, with nine of the 13 districts seeing some level of rise in the last week.
The only areas to see cases drop were Dover (-6.2%), Folkestone and Hythe (-35.0%), Swale (-47.8%) and Thanet (-38.5%).
Dartford currently has the highest infection rate at 54.2 and 61 new cases, a rise of 60.5% in the last week.
Earlier this week, targeted Covid-19 testing took place across two secondary schools in Dartford to identify potential cases of the Delta variant.
The area with the lowest infection rate was Thanet at 5.6.
