Health leaders in North Yorkshire said today they were confident of having enough covid vaccine to inoculate all four top priority groups by February 15.
Concerns have been raised about the supply of vaccine to the region, with some reports saying it may be reduced to let other parts of the country catch up.
But officials at North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group said they have been assured by government supply will be in place to meet next month’s target for the most vulnerable groups.
The four priority groups include residents and staff in care homes, over 80s and frontline health workers, over 75s, over 70s and the clinically extremely vulnerable.
Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire CCG, told a North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum press briefing that supply does vary from week to week but officials were confident of meeting government targets.
She said:
“The government has assured us that there is supply in place. We have plans in place across North Yorkshire and York to meet those targets by February 15.
“The amount we get from week-to-week does vary. But what I would say is that this is not just a North Yorkshire vaccination campaign, this is a national campaign to target the most vulnerable.”
Health bosses confirmed the vaccine has been offered to all care home workers and residents in the region.
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However, some homes have had to defer inoculations due to outbreaks of covid among residents and staff.
Ms Bloor said:
“We cannot vaccinate people who are currently poorly with covid or the period immediately after they have had covid.
“Where these is an outbreak, the vaccination will be deferred in that home.”
Officials confirmed today that 126,163 vaccinations have been carried out across North Yorkshire and York.
Of that number, 107,752 have received a vaccine at a local vaccination site, such as the Great Yorkshire Showground. A further 18,411 have been vaccinated in hospital.
Meanwhile, a new vaccination site will be opened at Ripon racecourse next week.
The site will be the latest centre to serve the Harrogate district, alongside the Great Yorkshire Showground, Elland Road in Leeds and Askham Bar in York.
