MORE than 65,000 Covid vaccines were issued in Dorset last week – an increase of almost 60 per cent on the previous seven days.

Between December 13 and 19, around 66,000 doses were given compared to 42,000 the previous week.

Among those were 1,000 vulnerable people who are housebound, with around 160 more in this group to be vaccinated in the coming week.

Dr Andy Rutland, clinical lead for the vaccination programme, said: “This has been an incredible effort by the NHS, with support from all our partners, to step up this programme even more. It’s been wonderful to see local people responding so well and coming in for their jabs.”

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Dorset has ramped up its programme to get more vaccines into arms, with thousands of extra slots made available around the county.

Last week saw opening hours at the two existing vaccination centres at King’s Park Hospital and Vespasian House in Dorchester extended to cover 8am to 8pm.

A third centre at opened for NHS staff at Sentinel House, Dorset HealthCare’s headquarters in Poole, on Friday, December 17, is now available on the NHS national booking system for the public.

Elsewhere, a walk-in pop-up centre run by Shore Medical (PCN) at the Territorial Army Centre in Wallisdown, Poole gave around 900 doses in a day.

GP-led clinics and pharmacies are also increasing the slots available.

This week, University Hospitals Dorset is running a clinic with booked appointments in its new health village in Beales department store, Poole.

Read more: ‘Have a coffee, a mooch and get your jab’: Beales site offering Covid vaccinations

In areas of the county where there is insufficient capacity additional pop-up clinics are being planned – organisers are continually assessing take-up and availability and adapting arrangements.

Dawn Dawson, director of nursing, therapies and quality at Dorset HealthCare said:

“We now have over 180 additional staff in the pipeline to become vaccinators. These staff are being onboarded and trained so that they can be deployed where needed across the system.

“We really can’t thank everyone enough – our incredible staff who are working so hard, our lovely volunteers who make the experience so positive and all the local people who have come forward for their jab.

“Please encourage your friends and family to come forward – we are ready to give them their dose of the life-saving vaccine to help protect Dorset’s communities.”

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People are being advised to book vaccinations using the NHS National booking system with new appointments being added all the time.

Once capacity and bookings are assessed each day, last minute walk-in availability may be available at some sites. Health and care organisations will release these on social media @DorsetHealth and @DorsetCCG.