All priority groups in Sheffield to be vaccinated against Covid-19 by ‘late spring’

The NHS has so far been working to vaccinate the first two priority cohorts recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which are care home residents and staff, and those aged 80 and over and frontline health and care staff.

From Monday (January 18), people aged 70 and over and the clinically extremely vulnerable will begin receiving invitations for vaccinations from their respective GP.

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In a video statement, Sheffield's Director of Public Health Greg Fell said based on their current forecasts, they will be able to get a vaccine for all the groups that the JCVI recommends by late spring.

He said: "On the rollout, it's the biggest vaccination programme in history and as I say, it will take time to get through to all eligible people and to fully vaccinate those that we want to vaccinate initially.

"The supply of the vaccine coming through in small batches, which means the NHS is rolling it out, wave by wave.

"It's fair for me to say that our GP practices in Sheffield and everywhere else are well used to delivering tens of thousands of flu vaccines a year. It is a marathon, not a sprint and it will take some time.

"Based on our current forecasts... that we'll be able to get a vaccine into all those that the JCVI have said would benefit by late spring is our best estimate."

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The JCVI groups include residents in a care home for older adults and their carers, all those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers, all those 75 years of age and over, all those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals.

Others include all those 65 years of age and over, all individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality, all those 60 years of age and over, all those 55 years of age and over and finally all those 50 years of age and over.

Meanwhile, every adult will reportedly receive their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine by September.

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In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.