As the government steps up its Covid vaccine programme in the face of the new Omicron variant, here is your latest data round-up on vaccinations in Wiltshire.

As a result of the new Covid strain, booster jabs will now be available to all over 18-year-olds to deal with the potential impact of the variant.

But how much of the population of your area has already had their first jab? 

READ MORE: Omicron: Timeline from discovery to arrival in the UK and the consequences since

How many people in Wiltshire have received a first or second Covid jab?

As per government data up to and including November 28, in Wiltshire 87.9% of the population over the age of 12 have received their first vaccine with 81.1% receiving their second dose.

In Wiltshire a total of 379,220 people have received their second Covid vaccine dose, with 410,977 people having received their first dose. 

Since October 4, when we published our last Covid vaccine round-up, 9,177 people in Wiltshire have had their second dose. 

The borough of Swindon has a lower uptake compared to the county of Wiltshire with 83.2% of the population over 12 years old receiving their first dose and 76.4% receiving their second. 

READ MORE: Does the Covid vaccine work against Omicron variant? What we know so far

Which areas in Wiltshire have the highest and lowest Covid Vaccine uptake? 

The government has split Wiltshire up into areas they call MSOAs (Middle Super Output Areas) which are small areas that have an average population of 7,200.

Since our last Covid round up, children from 12 upwards have been invited for Covid vaccines which is why percentages of those vaccinated has decreased in some areas despite the number of those receiving vaccines increasing.

According to Public Health England data from November 27, these MSOAs in Wiltshire have the most and the least first and second vaccine dose uptakes. 

The areas in Wiltshire with the five lowest uptakes for first doses are:

  • Trowbridge North (78.5%)
  • Trowbridge South East (81.7%)
  • Trowbridge South (83.2%)
  • Warminster Central and Trowbridge East (both with 83.7)
  • Salisbury Town North & Milford (89.9)

The top five areas for first dose uptake are:

  • Whaddon, Whiteparish and Winterslow (92.4%)
  • Downton and Morgan’s vale (91.8%)
  • Great Wishford, Woodford Valley and Porton (91.6%)
  • Salisbury Stratford (91.4%)
  • Sherston and Hullavington (91%)

For second doses, the top MSOA is Whaddon, Whiteparish and Winterslow (86.1%) and the worst area is Trowbridge North (72.1%).

READ MORE: Covid variant sparks 'chaos' warning to schools in England

How many people in my area have had one or two Covid vaccines?

Check how first dose and second dose vaccination uptake in your area compares to the rest of Wiltshire in this graph below.

Booster jab rollout in Wiltshire so far

NHS England data, published for the first time, shows 114,381 people aged 50 and over in Wiltshire had received a booster jab or third vaccine dose by November 21.

That's at least 51% of the age group, based on the number of people on the National Immunisation Management Service.

Around 20% of 50-54 year olds, who were the latest age group to be offered a booster jab, have received them.  

This amounts to 7,799 people. 

Of the other eligible age groups for a booster jab the percentage and amount of those with an extra dose in Wiltshire is as follows:

  • 24% of people aged between 55 and 59 - 9,627 people
  • 35% of people aged between 60 and 64 – 11,911
  • 54% people aged between 65 and 69 – 16,072
  • 76% of people aged between 70 and 74 – 22,877
  • 85% of people aged between 75 and 79 – 19,900
  • 86% of people aged 80 and over – 26,195

READ MORE: All people aged 18 and over to be offered a Covid-19 booster vaccine

What does Omicron mean for booster jabs 

Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed today that the government will be taking on recommendations made by the UK's vaccine advisory body - the Joint Committee on Vaccine and Immunisation (JCVI) - in full. 

These are:

• Booster jabs for everybody over the age of 18

• Shortening the gap between a second jab and a booster from six months to three months

• Giving a second jab to children aged between 12 and 15 - again after no less than three months

• Severely immunosuppressed people given access to another booster - meaning for some, a fourth dose this winter

• Boosters consisting of either a Pfizer vaccine or a half dose of the Moderna jab

READ MORE: Boris Johnson announces new Covid rules in the face of Omicron 

What do Wiltshire Council and  Salisbury Hospital have to say 

Director for public health in Wiltshire, Kate Blackburn, described Omicron as a 'fast-moving situation' and urged locals to follow the new measures to 'mitigate its risk'.

She said: “It’s a new variant, but the simple measures we’ve all been taking throughout this pandemic are still important – washing hands regularly, wearing face coverings where required, taking lateral flow tests regularly, getting vaccinated and the booster, and self-isolating and getting a PCR test when displaying any symptoms.

“People can be assured that health teams and scientists throughout the world will be working around the clock to ensure they know everything about this new variant to help keep people as safe as possible.”

As of this morning, November 29, Salisbury Hospital is treating six Covid patients. 

On the new Coronavirus measures coming into affect tomorrow, a hospital spokesperson said: "We encourage everyone to follow the Government guidance. 

"Please remember to wear a mask when required to do so and accept the offer of vaccination or a booster when it is made. 

"It is never too late to have your first or second jab.  Being fully vaccinated remains the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 infection."

READ MORE: 

For an interactive graph of vaccination rates across the UK use the government's coronavirus tracker.

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