More than a quarter of a million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given in the North West in the first three weeks of the latest spring campaign.

It means more than one in four of those eligible in the region – including those aged 75+ and people with a weakened immune system – have already topped up their protection from the virus.

Roving vaccination teams from GP practices and community pharmacies have also visited 950 care homes – more than two-thirds of the region’s total – in less than a month. since the spring programme started on 15 April.

Dr Linda Charles-Ozuzu, Regional Director of Commissioning for NHS England – North West, said: “It’s great to see so many of our most vulnerable people being vaccinated in the early weeks of the spring vaccination programme and I’d like to thank the NHS teams who have made great progress visiting care homes and people who are housebound.

“Even if people have had previous doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, viruses change and protection fades over time so it’s really important that people come forward to get this latest dose of vaccine.

“I’d urge anyone who hasn’t yet come forward to book their appointment or visit a walk-in clinic as soon as possible.”

There are more than 500 sites offering COVID-19 vaccines across the North West, including GP practices, community pharmacies and mobile clinics such as Cheshire & Merseyside’s Living Well Bus, with many offering walk-in vaccination, no appointments needed.

Walk-in opportunities in the North West over the next two weeks include:

• Cheshire & Merseyside’s Living Well Bus will be visiting locations including Burtonwood Community Centre, Asda in Crewe, the Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre in Liverpool and Waitrose in Formby. Find out more at: The Living Well Service :: Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (cwp.nhs.uk)
• Lancashire & South Cumbria’s Fylde Coast vaccine bus will be visiting Morrisons at Squires Gate Lane, Blackpool, Affinity Lancashire in Anchorage Road, Fleetwood, and Morrisons  at Amounderness Way, Thornton Cleveleys. Find out more at: Walk-In vaccination clinics (blackpool.gov.uk)
• In Greater Manchester, walk-in clinics are taking place at Horwich RMI at Kildonan House and Hopwood Medical Centre in Heywood, Rochdale. Find out more at: COVID Vaccine Walk-in Clinics | Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership (gmintegratedcare.org.uk)
• Find more clinics at: Find a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

People can book a vaccine appointment via the NHS website or by calling 119 for free, with parents or carers able to book a Covid-19 vaccination for children under 16 on their behalf. Eligible people aged 16 and over can also use the NHS App to book an appointment.

Anyone eligible who has not received any previous doses should get vaccinated during this year’s spring offer