The NHS Covid Vaccination Programme in the North East and Yorkshire has now surpassed 10 million jabs and has also given a vital second vaccine dose to more than half the adult population across the region.

Figures released yesterday show that across the region the NHS has given over 10 million vaccinations and of these, four-and-a-half-million were second doses.

This milestone comes shortly after everyone aged 18 or over was invited to get their first dose, with an extra 50 walk-in locations among 80 additional sites opened across the region last weekend for people to ‘grab a jab’.

The 10 million mark has been reached just over six months since the launch of the biggest vaccination programme in the health service’s history, and Regional Clinical Lead Dr Yvette Oade has praised the remarkable efforts of everyone involved in protecting millions across the North East and Yorkshire.

Dr Yvette Oade, Regional Clinical Lead for the NHS Covid Vaccination Programme, says: “Reaching this milestone is a fantastic achievement for our region and it has been thanks to the remarkable efforts, careful planning and coordination of local hospitals, GPs, nurses, pharmacists, volunteers, Allied Health Professionals and thousands of others.

“Everyone involved should feel proud of the role they have played in helping us to protect millions of the most vulnerable in our region.”

Nationally, four in five adults have received their first dose of the jab, with three in five already fully vaccinated after receiving two doses.

All adults can still book at one of the 1,700 vaccination centre, pharmacy or general practice sites across the country that are available through the national booking service. Vaccination centres are also available in convenient locations such as mosques, museums and football stadiums. Details of the locations of the sites will be made available for communities across the country, so people can find the most convenient venue for them.

Text invitations appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’ and include a web link to the NHS website to reserve an appointment. People who cannot go online can call the service on 119 instead to book their jab.

People aged 39 and under who are eligible and pregnant women will be offered the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine in line with updated JCVI guidance.