Latest vaccination progress

Our latest data shows we have 90% of the top nine priority groups vaccinated with at least one dose. More than 360,000 people are now protected with both doses of the vaccine.

• Cohorts 1-4 (over 70 years, health and care staff, care home residents): 94%
• Cohort 5 (65-69 years): 93%
• Cohort 6 (clinically vulnerable aged 16-64): 82%
• Cohort 7 (60-64 years): 90%
• Cohort 8 (55-59 years): 88%
• Cohort 9 (50-54 years): 85%
• Cohort 10 (45-49 years): 38%

Second dose appointments this Bank Holiday weekend

Several of our vaccination teams are running clinics this Bank Holiday weekend. Getting your second dose is really important to maximise your own protection and help protect friends and others. If you have an appointment this weekend, please do make sure you attend. There’ll be more sunny days in the months ahead.

Medway primary care vaccination team top 50,000 jabs

Dr Sati Lall and the team providing vaccinations for patients of 16 General Practice surgeries across Rochester, Strood and Medway South have celebrated giving their 50,000^th vaccination this week. Well done to all the staff and volunteers running the clinics. They even got a mention on the Downing Street press conference this Wednesday! Read more on KentOnline here. Within Medway as a whole, more than 175,000 people are now protected with at least one dose.

Study shows vaccine is cutting family infections

A new study has shown that being vaccinated reduces the risk of passing Covid-19 onto family and friends you’re in close contact with.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at PHE, said: "Vaccines are vital in helping us return to a normal way of life. Not only do vaccines reduce the severity of illness and prevent hundreds of deaths every day, we now see they also have an additional impact on reducing the chance of passing Covid-19 on to others."

Read more about the study

Stick to the rules and keep testing

The vaccine programme is making a real difference in reducing the spread of the virus and the impact it has on individuals. But vaccination is only one part of how we’ll beat this virus. Two other essential things are:

1. Everyone keeping to the rules on social distancing, face coverings and good hand hygiene.
2. Everyone taking up the offer of regular symptom-free testing.

Order free testing kits online or find out more about testing on the Kent County Council and Medway Council websites.