Dear <<First Name>>
As I am sure you will be aware, the rollout of the covid19 vaccine across the country continues apace, with over 14m doses administered so far, including some 40,000 doses in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin in just the past week alone. Only two countries in the world have administered more vaccines per 100 people than the UK - Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
This is a remarkable effort, and I want to thank all those involved in the vaccination programme here, including NHS staff, Shropshire Council staff, RAF medics at Ludlow Racecourse, volunteers from Shropshire Fire & Rescue, and many members of the community including retired clinicians, and public spirited folk, braving the chill and wet weather to help get the most vulnerable in our community vaccinated.
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Having had to shield during this awful pandemic, I share in the immense relief felt by all those who have received the vaccine against Covid in South Shropshire, having had my vaccine at Ludlow Hospital last week. The whole process was quick, easy and painless.
As you know, this is a major national effort, and the more people we can vaccinate, the more lives we protect, and the sooner we can hope to return to some sense of normality. So when you receive news you are eligible for a vaccine, please do book an appointment.
If you are over 70, or Extremely Clinically Vulnerable or with another medical condition which impacts your immunity, you no longer need to wait to be contacted by the NHS - you can book your vaccine now, either online at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination or by phoning 119.
If you have friends and neighbours in this cohort yet to receive their vaccine, please encourage them to book an appointment as soon as possible.
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I joined a zoom update for Shropshire MPs with our local NHS leaders today, and was pleased to learn in South East Shropshire 99.05% of over 80s have had their first vaccine, of which 18.75% have had second dose - the highest in county on both counts. In South West Shropshire 97.5% of over 80s had first dose.
The overall vaccination figures for the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin area (subject to national verification) are as follows:
- Over 80s - 93.6%
- 75-79 - 100%
- 70-74 - 93.6%
- 65-69 - 31.4%
Priority Group 5, (those aged 65-69) have been invited since Wednesday this week to attend a vaccination, and will be the focus of attention for vaccination next week across the county, at the vaccination centres in the map above.
As a reminder, it is vital that if you experience coronavirus symptoms, you must immediately self isolate and book a covid test at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. Alongside the three main symptoms (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a change or loss in sense of smell or taste), a list of ‘precautionary’ symptoms you could experience has been developed, including: headaches, aches and pains, feeling very tired for no good reason, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, or tummy ache in children.
If you don’t have the classic symptoms when you are booking a coronavirus test, you can click or tell the call handler ‘I don’t have any symptoms’ option. When asked why you are booking the test, click the option ‘My local council or health protection team has asked me (or someone I live with) to get a test, even though I do not have symptoms’.
There are testing centres for booked testing appointments for those with symptoms in Ludlow at the Smithfield Car Park and those without symptoms in Craven Arms at the Halo Centre.
Our continued vigilance against this virus is critical in reducing community transmission, and saving lives.
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Keep safe and well.
With kind regards
Philip
Rt Hon Philip Dunne
MP for Ludlow
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