MORE than half of all adults in the Black Country and West Birmingham have received their first Covid-19 vaccine, health bosses have said.

People have been receiving their vaccine in hospitals, care homes, GP surgeries, pharmacies and even local sports centres and places of worship and more than 540,000 first doses have now been administered through the mass vaccination programme.

Sally Roberts, chief nursing officer for the NHS Black Country and West Birmingham CCGs, said: “It is a truly extraordinary achievement to have vaccinated half of our region’s adults in barely three months.

“This vaccination programme has been on a scale like nothing any of us has seen before and I am immensely proud of all the colleagues who have pulled together to make this happen.

“This has been a true team effort across the Black Country and West Birmingham system. From the vaccine team and hospitals who made sure our frontline workers are protected and the GPs who were at the forefront of getting the vaccine out into communities, to the public health teams who helped promote the importance of vaccination and not forgetting the community organisations who offered their premises and their volunteers to support this crucial work.”

With thousands of people now becoming eligible for their second dose, which is to be given 10 to 12 weeks after the first, the focus in the coming weeks will be on giving out second doses so the most vulnerable are as well protected against the virus as possible.

Currently the vaccine is available to anyone over 50, anyone who has an underlying health condition such as diabetes or asthma, and anyone who works in the health and care sectors or is a named carer for another person.

Anyone in an eligible group, even if those who have previously declined the vaccine and changed their mind, can still book an appointment by calling 119 or visiting nhs.uk/covid-vaccination.

Between now and Friday April 2, eligible people can also go to Saddlers Centre, Walsall; Tipton Sports Academy, Sandwell; or WV Active Aldersley, Wolverhampton, without the need for an appointment.

NHS teams are visiting the housebound and those unable to travel to a vaccination service.

For latest information about the vaccine visit blackcountrywestbirminghamcovidvaccine.co.uk.