More than 2.5 million vaccines have been given to people by the NHS in the Midlands during December, including over 2.4 million boosters, but more people are being urged to come forward as the impact of Omicron continues to be felt.

The UK Health Security Agency’s figures released this week show that the largest group to have COVID-19 are the 17 – 21 age range (1,519 per 100,000 for the West Midlands). Large numbers of this age range remain unvaccinated. Across England over 20% of 18-24-year-olds haven’t had a first dose.

Cases for the over 60 age range are fewer, but in the seven days up till 26 December, these increased by 140 percent to 383 per 100,000 people for the West Midlands.

Hospitals in the region are reporting a steep increase in admissions because of COVID-19, and although numbers in ICU remain stable, around 70 percent of those patients in ICU with COVID are unvaccinated.

Matt Day, Regional Deputy Director for Healthcare Public Health, NHS England and NHS Improvement in the Midlands said:

“Case numbers are continuing to rise quickly across the Midlands, and we are now seeing that rapid growth in our older age groups too. Hospital admissions are also rising quickly but the evidence continues to show that COVID-19 vaccines offer the best protection for individuals against the risk of severe disease and mortality.

“I would urge everyone who is eligible – three months on from their second jab – to get their booster as soon as possible. It is our best possible protection against the virus and studies have shown that it reduces your risk of symptomatic disease from the Omicron variant by up to 75%*.” (*https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1040076/Technical_Briefing_31.pdf).

The December success marks the end of a monumental year and takes the total number of vaccinations delivered in the Midlands to almost 21 million since the programme began.

UK Health Security Agency data shows that two doses of a COVID vaccine are not enough to stop people becoming unwell from Omicron, but a third booster prevents around 75% of people getting any COVID-19 symptoms.

Nigel Sturrock, Regional Medical Director for NHS England and NHS Improvement in the Midlands, added: “We have all read that Omicron is mild but I’m hearing from doctors in hospitals that it isn’t mild for everybody – patients who have no immunity to COVID are becoming very ill indeed.

“I want to see everyone kept as safe as possible during this Omicron wave and the best way to gain immunity to COVID is to have the vaccine.

“More than 2.65 million people in the Midlands got vaccination doses in December and more than 100,000 of them were first doses. I urge everyone to get their vaccinations as soon as they are able and get the protection they need against the serious illness of COVID-19.”

If you have recently had a positive COVID-19 test you need to wait 28 days before you can have your first, second or booster vaccination.

Visit www.nhs.uk for details of how to book a vaccination or how to find a site you can walk in to. Alternatively, call 119 to book an appointment.