Vaccinations in Sheffield pass 160,000 mark as health chief issues new jab advice

Sheffield’s director of public health, Greg Fell, revealed that 163,000 people, which is well over a quarter of the city’s 585,000 population, had now received at least their first dose of vaccine.

“To stick that many needles in that many arms so quickly is undoubtedly an astounding effort,” he said.

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In a video update recorded on Wednesday and published yesterday afternoon, Mr Fell said vaccinations were well under way in the city for people aged 65-69 and those aged 16-65 who are clinically vulnerable, and he said this was ‘going really, really quickly’.

“Please don’t call your GP to enquire about when your turn will come. You will be asked,” he said.

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But he reminded people that if they are over 70, in the clinically extremely vulnerable group, defined as the shielders, or are a frontline health and social care worker and haven’t yet been vaccinated for whatever reason, it wasn’t too late and they could book an appointment online or by calling 119.

The latest Covid vaccination figures published by NHS England yesterday, Thursday, February 25, show that as of February 21, 408,711 doses had been administered to people across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw, with 144,836 people aged under 65 having had at least their first dose.

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In Sheffield, up to that date, 66,699 people aged 70 or above and 71,610 under-70s had received at least one dose of vaccine.