Corby lagging behind rest of Northamptonshire in Covid vaccination rates

Corby is behind other areas in Northamptonshire. Image: JPI Media / Getty

One in five of the most elderly and vulnerable residents have still to be vaccinated in the area with the highest Covid-19 case rates in Northamptonshire.

New figures show vacccination staff have jabbed 12,432 people aged 60 and over in Corby up to March 7 out of a target population of 15,523.

The biggest gap is in those aged between 60 and 69 where nearly a third of those eligible have still to receive the vaccine. It means only 80 per cent of over 60s have currently been vaccinated in Corby - the lowest rate across the county's seven boroughs and districts.

In Kettering 85 per cent of over 60s have been vaccinated, with 87 per cent in East Northants and 84 per cent in Wellingborough.

Health bosses say the issue was probably caused because Corby was one of the later areas for the vaccine to be rolled-out.

Deputy Director of the Northamptonshire Covid Vaccination Programme Anna Dorothy told a press conference this afternoon (Friday, March 12): "We're absolutely committed to getting everybody vaccinated is quickly as possible and not leave anybody behind.

"There will always be some fluctuations in vaccination rates and we're tuned into these.

"Corby was part of one of the later waves in terms of starting the vaccination programme and therefore there's a degree of catch-up.

"We remain focused in making sure we give Corby that opportunity."

Case rates in Corby dropped by half over last week to 124.6 per 100,000. The borough is no longer top of the UK's list of areas with the highest case rates although case rates remain significantly higher than the UK average with double the national average of positive tests in the last week.

A second rapid testing centre finally opened at Hazelwood Neighbrouhood Centre this week more than a month after local MPs pressured Health Secretary Matt Hancock to tackle the issue.

And another vaccination centre was launched opposite Mr Pickford's pharmacy in Corporation Street.

The total number of jabs given in Northamptonshire has now passed 250,000, according to NHS figures with another 25,000 delivered in the last week.

Another 9,800 have received the vital second dose within 12 weeks of the first.

Nearly 90 per cent of those over-60s in Daventry, East Northamptonshire and South Northamptonshire have received a first dose of the life-saving vaccine. Numbers in Northampton, Kettering and Wellingborough are just below 85 per cent.