More than 14,000 priority patients in Sittingbourne have had their first coronavirus vaccine.

The news comes after the government announced it had hit its target of offering a Covid-19 jab to its top four priority groups in the UK – the equivalent of 15 million people – by February 15.

The groups included residents and staff in care homes; those aged 70 and over; front-line health and social care workers; and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals.

Today Shaun Potter, who is leading Sittingbourne's vaccination hub at the Age UK day centre in Avenue of Remembrance, said 14,644 had now received their first jab, while 270 had had their second.

Meanwhile, a total of 98 patients have not attended their appointment and 128 have refused the offer of the vaccine.

The centre is now vaccinating adults aged 16 to 65 years in an at-risk group, and it’s also attempting to contact patients who it has not had a response from or patients who could not have the vaccine before due to having Covid.

When asked how it was going, Mr Potter said: “It’s going really well. Last week we faced a huge challenge with snow but managed to remain open and provide vaccinations as planned with no waste.

“Patients are very grateful and each has their own story about lockdown and the experiences they have been facing, but the future is positive and so much thanks has come in each day to myself.”

He added: “We have also introduced a text booking system now as we move towards younger patients and we are inviting patients to book a slot via text message, if you don’t have a mobile we will contact via land line or in a letter.

"The staff and myself are working as fast as we can please continue to be patient and we will be in touch with you shortly.”

On Thursday, Gordon Henderson (Con), Sittingbourne and Sheppey’s MP, thanked the NHS for their efforts in rolling out the vaccination programme.

He said: “Despite a few hiccups on the way, it looks as if most people in the first four Covid-19 vaccination groups in Sittingbourne and Sheppey will have been vaccinated by target date set by the government.

“I say ‘most’ because there will be some in those groups who, for one reason or another, were not able to be vaccinated, including a few who are in hospital and a few who decided not to have the vaccination.

"Of course, there might be other people who have slipped through the net. So, anybody in those groups who has not yet received a vaccination, but wants one, should contact the NHS as soon as possible. If they are faced with a problem, then they should contact my office and I will see what I can do to help.”

He added: "The reason we have managed to meet the target, is due almost entirely to the efforts made by the fantastic people working in our local NHS GP primary care networks (PCNs), and all those volunteers from our community who helped them ensure the vaccination exercise went relatively smoothly, despite the hiccups I mentioned earlier, over which the PCNs often had no control.

“I extend my heartfelt thanks, on behalf of my constituents, to all those involved in ensuring so many people have now received their first vaccination.

“Now we must all pull together to ensure the rest of the nine priority groups are vaccinated quickly, and the second dose is delivered equally as efficiently.”

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne

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