THE number of Covid vaccinations administered in the latest weekly period in Dorset fell below 30,000.

A total of 337,763 jabs have been given across the county up to March 7, according to NHS data.

However, in the most recent seven-day period available, 28,917 vaccinations were delivered in Dorset.

In the week to February 7 there were 47,083 jabs given, but this has gradually fallen since then on a weekly basis.

The latest seven-day total is the lowest recorded in Dorset since the NHS began publishing the figures in late January.

The figures report that a total of 11,694 Dorset residents have received both doses to date. This is broken down as:

  • 8,587 people aged over 80
  • 89 people aged 75 to 79
  • 121 people aged aged 70 to 74
  • 169 people aged 65 to 69
  • 348 people aged 60 to 64
  • 2,380 people aged under 60

A further 314,375 people have received just their first dose across the county since vaccinations began in December. This broken down as:

  • 48,009 people aged over 80
  • 38,705 people aged 75 to 79
  • 50,648 people aged aged 70 to 74
  • 44,148 people aged 65 to 69
  • 34,843 people aged 60 to 64
  • 98,022 people aged under 60

Across England, almost 20 million vaccine doses had been administered up to March 7 as the immunisation programme continues.

There are more than 20 sites in Dorset administering Covid-19 vaccinations, including the BIC which is able to deliver 9,000 a week once it reaches capacity.

Other sites include GP-led clinics and at the county's three main hospitals – Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester and Poole Hospital.

This week the an NHS trust confirmed that everyone over the age of 55 can now register for a Covid vaccine.

The Dorset HealthCare NHS trust has called for people over that age to register for the vaccine as priority group eight has now been called.

Priority group eight is all those over 55. Those in groups seven to one have already been invited to come forward in recent months.

To register for a vaccine jab, visit nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/ or call 119.

A spokesperson from NHS England: “Varying supply of the vaccine is an issue we’ve had to manage from the beginning of the programme and our vaccination sites have to flex in line with that.

"With expected vaccine supply increases from next week, we're planning for further acceleration as we head towards Easter.”

A NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group spokesperson added: “Since the launch of the vaccination programme we have delivered more than 330,000 doses of vaccine to local people and with over 20 sites being able to deliver the vaccine across the county we will continue to increase this number as national supplies allow.

"We would like to thank everyone involved who has made this possible.”