Here’s the latest update from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group on how the Covid booster programme is going.

They say: “The team responsible for delivering COVID-19 booster vaccinations to people across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has been working around the clock to increase appointments available since the Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday. 

In the first three days of this week alone we have already increased the number of vaccines delivered across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough by 60%, compared to the week prior, and over 2,000 people were vaccinated at Queensgate Centre Vaccination Centre yesterday alone. We will be ramping up even further over the coming days, opening up even more appointments for people to book their boosters. 

So far, over 90% of people aged 70 and over (who are eligible for their booster) in our area have had their booster, with thousands of people booked in each day to get vaccinated.  

Our hospital hubs have all reopened, our Primary Care Network sites are vaccinating again, our large vaccination centres have increased their capacity and are looking to go further, and our community pharmacies are delivering vaccinations in locations at the very heart of our local communities.  

We remain focused on delivering vaccinations to those most at risk from COVID-19, with our Primary Care Networks and community provider colleagues continuing to deliver vaccinations to our housebound patients, as well as those living in care and nursing homes. 

The new guidance announced on Wednesday that people no longer have to wait in the vaccination centre for 15 minutes following their vaccination means we can increase capacity further. People will be given an explanatory leaflet telling them what to look out for if they feel unwell after their vaccination. People are also advised not to drive for 15 minutes after their vaccination due to a risk of fainting.  

At this moment in time, we are not offering boosters on a walk-in basis to ensure that as many eligible people as possible can access boosters in a planned and managed way. However, patients who still haven’t had either their first and second dose can get them on a walk-in basis at a number of our larger centres, and we’re still seeing a good uptake of first and second doses each day. In the first four days of this week, over 1,200 people took up the offer to have their first dose in our area. 

To ensure that as many pregnant or breastfeeding women can access the vaccination as possible, we have put in place Fast Pass arrangements that allow pregnant women and women who breastfeed to skip the queue.”

• The CCG is still recruiting volunteers to support the biggest and fastest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS. If you are interested in volunteering do sign up via the Royal Voluntary Service website.