AN update on the coronavirus vaccination programme in Bolton has revealed more than 131,000 people in the borough have received their first dose.

A meeting of health leaders heard that 22,086 of those people had been given their second jab as of Wednesday, April 7.

Figures reported to the board of the borough’s clinical commissioning group showed the proportions of the eligible cohorts who had taken up the offer of a vaccination.

Of those aged 75 and over, 95.1 per cent have been vaccinated.

Of those aged 70 to 74 the figure is 93.8 per cent and 91.4 per cent of. 65 to 69-year-olds have had an injection.

Nearly 89 per cent of 60 to 64-year-olds and 85.5 per cent of the 55 to 59 age group have taken up the offer while the figure s 80,6 per cent of those aged 50 to 54.

The other two priority groups are the clinically extremely vulnerable and those at risk of Covid-19 where the proportions are 88.4 per cent and 78.8 per cent respectively.

The meeting heard second doses have now started in earnest, at Bolton vaccination sites and the teams have been assured second dose supply is guaranteed, with dates being provided for deliveries.

Medical chiefs were told there has been some challenges matching Pfizer supply to second dose locations and that the guidance on the timing of second doses is between 77-84 days from the first dose, but can be brought

forward using clinical judgement.

Dr Helen Wall, who leads the vaccination programme for Bolton, said: “Every eligible person registered with a GP in Bolton has now been contacted at least three times with an invitation.

“We’re hoping to be able to move on to the younger cohorts in April and sites are keen to crack on.

“We have been told that second dose supply will be guaranteed.”

Dr Wall addressed recent reports about the use of the Astra Zeneca vaccine.

She said: “There has been an Astra Zenca announcement by the regulatory authority for medicine to consider an alternative first dose vaccine for those under-30.

“The issues has been floating around for a few weeks regarding its use and blood clots.

“The causality has not been proven but are increasing links and there maybe some concern about a reaction.

“They have been clear this is a very rare and unusual event that happens. It’s about four in a million risk.

“The theory behind this is that if you’ve had the first dose and been fine then you’ll be fine with the second dose.

“If you were susceptible it would happen on the first contact.”

Dr Wall said on the first day since the announcement she was working at a clinic at Tonge Moor and 90 per cent of Astra Zeneca patients there expressed concerns and the team there had to do a lot of explaining and reassuring.