The milestone of more than 100,000 people to be vaccinated with their first COVID-19 vaccine has now been hit in Stockport. Latest figures released this morning, Monday, 1 March, show that 101,766 of the registered population have now received their first vaccination.

 Dr. Cath Briggs, Chair of NHS Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “This is such great news. It’s a tremendous effort from the CCG, Primary Care staff and volunteers working together to get residents vaccinated as quickly as possible.

“I would especially like to thank the people of Stockport for getting behind the vaccination programme and turning up for their first appointment.

“It’s important we keep the momentum behind the vaccination programme going and people must look out for their vaccination invitations and continue to attend.”

 Anita Rolfe, Executive Nurse at Stockport CCG, said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has attended for their vaccine, it really has been a team effort from everyone in Stockport.”

Councillor Jude Wells, Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health, said: “We’re delighted that we have reached such an important milestone after the 100,000th person received their coronavirus vaccination in Stockport.

“Implementing the vaccination programme has been an amazing joint team effort between colleagues at Stockport Council, NHS Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group and  Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, who have pulled together to safeguard the health of our residents and workers.

“Everyone who receives a vaccination is helping not only to keep their family, friends and the wider community in the borough safe from the worst effects of Covid and to move towards getting life back to some degree of normality. We urge everyone who has yet to receive their invitation to take up the offer. Working together, we can all do our best for Stockport.”

Jennifer Connolly, Stockport’s Director of Public Health, said: “It is fabulous news that Stockport has vaccinated over 100,000 people and we’d like to thank all our residents for coming forward for their vaccination when invited. I would urge those yet to receive their invitations to please accept the offer when it does arrive, and anyone who has been offered but waited so far please consider now coming forward to take up your offer.

"I’d also like to thank Stopfordians for adhering to the restrictions on social contact. It’s vitally important that we remember that Stay at Home restrictions continue until at least 29 March. Rates could rise again quickly if we don’t remain vigilant – the newer strain that’s now dominant across Stockport and the rest of the country is more easily spread.

“If you’re not able to work from home, please adhere to the guidelines your employer has put in place, particularly being mindful of the need to keep your distance, wearing a face covering, washing/sanitising your hands regularly and keeping indoor spaces well ventilated. Residents should continue to keep to the guidance around hands/face/space, even once they are vaccinated, as we need to keep showing the great care for each other, as we have done so far.”

Andrew Loughney, Medical Director for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said “We’ve had a tremendous response from our staff who have taken up the offer of vaccination in order to protect not only themselves but also our patients. Our vaccination team has also been doing an outstanding job, keeping up with the demand. For partners across Stockport to have vaccinated 100,000 already is truly remarkable and we at the trust are proud to have played our part in protecting the community.”

All those in priority groups 1-4 should now have been offered a COVID-19 vaccination. That includes all people over the age of 70, anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, frontline health and social care workers, care home residents and staff.

If you have not received an appointment, or were unable to accept one due to illness, self-isolating or any other reason, it is not too late. To arrange an appointment to be vaccinated against COVID-19, you just need to contact the NHS.

The easiest way to arrange a vaccination is through the national booking service which can be accessed at nhs.uk/covid-vaccination. People who do not know their NHS number can still book an appointment through the national system but will only be given an appointment if they are in the top four priority groups.

If you are not in a priority group, please wait - you will be contacted by the NHS when it is your turn to be vaccinated.