MORE than 5,000 patients have received the Covid-19 vaccine in north Dorset, with doctors now moving on to the next priority cohorts and age groups.

In the latest statement from January 31, from Doctor Simone Yule, it revealed that 5,140 patients had been vaccinated since the start of the Blackmore Vale-based roll out, first launching in Sturminster Newton last month.

Since then the vaccination process has also been taken to care homes and housebound patients across north Dorset.

Dr Yule, the locality lead GP for north Dorset, added: “We will be vaccinating another 2,870 people next week, the majority of whom will be our clinically extremely vulnerable patients and those aged 70 and over. Please wait to be called by your surgery for an appointment.

“It looks like numbers of positive cases are beginning to fall slowly but we still have new cases each week. So please continue to follow the rules.

“This is important for those of you who have received the vaccine as well as you will not yet have full immunity and it is not yet known whether you can pass on the virus.”

In hopes to assure residents that vaccination hubs are safe, Dr Yule added that The Exchange site in Sturminster Newton, which has been transformed into a vaccination centre, is “as safe as possible”.

She said that the whole building is disinfected every night using a fogging machine, rigorous social distancing and infection control measures are in place, staffing is to a minimum and all staff must have a negative Covid-19 test on the day of any clinics.

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